Modern slavery

Modern slavery is an umbrella term for a range of practices that involve coercion, threats or deception being used to exploit people and deprive them of their freedom. These are serious crimes globally (and in Australia) and include:

Trafficking in persons – the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a person by means including coercion, threat, fraud and abduction for the purpose of exploitation.

Slavery – when a person tries to exercise ‘ownership’ over another or when a person is treated like an object which can be bought, sold or traded.

Servitude – when a person does not consider themselves free to stop working or to leave their place of work because of coercion, threats or deception.

Forced marriage – where a person is married without their free and full consent because of coercion, threat, deception or because they are incapable of understanding the nature and effect of the marriage ceremony.

Forced labour – when a person is forced to work against their will or under threat of punishment.

Debt bondage – when a person is forced to work to pay off a debt or loan which is used as a form of coercion or control. The person is often tricked into working for little or no pay and may have no control over the level of debt.

Exploitative child labour – where children are exploited through slavery or slavery-like practices or where the work is harmful to children by, for example, depriving them of their potential and dignity or is harmful to their development.

Modern slavery can occur in any country or industry. Business models, operating contexts, the nature of work and location of work are all risk factors that have been identified as contributing to modern slavery. Globally, forced labour is most likely to occur in domestic work, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishing. In each industry, recruitment mechanisms often involve deception or coercion.  

In Australia there has been greater incidence of forced labour, and other forms of modern slavery, in industries like agriculture, construction, domestic work, cleaning, hospitality and food services. Due to the difficulty of obtaining secure employment, people with lived experience of the justice system, migrants and people experiencing homelessness are at heightened risk.  

Modern slavery can be difficult to identify as it has many different forms. Common signs that an individual may be at risk of modern slavery include:

• controlled or restricted movement, including restrictions on ability to communicate or being isolated from friends and family
• living at a workplace or another place owned or controlled by the employer
• limited or no discretion over life decisions
• signs of physical or psychological abuse or malnourishment
• inability, or perceived inability, to end employment
• retention, underpayment or no payment of wages, or wages being held to pay back a debt
• an appearance that they have few personal belongings; they may wear the same clothes each day or wear unsuitable clothes
• a requirement to work excessive hours or poor working conditions
• employer has custody of personal documents like their passport, travel or bank documents.

These factors are indicators of modern slavery. The presence of these factors does not mean modern slavery is occurring, just that it may be. In some cases, the signs may indicate other protection issues are present so it’s important not to dismiss any of them.

Modern slavery is illegal and has grievous impacts on individuals and the community. Acting to prevent modern slavery can bring valuable benefits to community groups, including:

• keeping vulnerable people safe
• avoiding complicity in harming people
• improved employee engagement, recruitment, retention, motivation and working conditions
• improved risk assessment and management, healthier working environments
• improved consumer and investor relations and minimisation of legal risks
• more sustainable business relationships
• enhanced reputation and image.