Candidate Number:216820
Addressing Modern Slavery in the Global Supply Chain:
Collaboration, Barriers, and Opportunities
Abstract
Millions of individuals and communities around the world are impacted by the phenomenon of
modern slavery, which is persistent and extensive in global supply networks. Companies must
work with governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to create and put into practise effective
policies to prevent and end modern slavery in their supply chains in order to solve this issue. In
order to emphasise the major obstacles and possibilities for productive collaboration, this
research analyses the nature and breadth of these collaborations. This study outlines a number
of obstacles to productive collaboration, including different priorities and interests, power
imbalances, and inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks, drawing on a review of the body
of current literature and case studies of successful collaborations. The paper makes the case for
a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder strategy that prioritises openness, responsibility, and the
defence of human rights in order to address these issues. In order to strengthen collaboration
and successfully address modern slavery in global supply chains, the paper finishes by offering
a series of best practices and suggestions for businesses and their partners.
1. Introduction
1.1.1. Background information on modern slavery in the global supply chain and a definition of
modern slavery and its forms
Modern slavery is a grave violation of human rights that affects as estimated by the International
Labour Organisation1 to around 50 million workers worldwide and has risen exponentially over
the last 5 years. Modern slavery has been found in the global supply chain in a number of
different industries, including agricultural, production, construction, and hospitality. For instance,
migrant workers in the Middle East have been subjected to forced labour and human rights
violations in the construction industry most recently seen in the construction of the stadiums
used to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar2, examples also include the InterContinental Hotels
Group in the UK3 was revealed to have long employed slave workers and the child labour has
been documented in the cocoa supply chain in West Africa. For instance, modern slavery is
prevalent in southeast Asia's electronics sector, where more than one-third of migrant workers
have had their passports seized and have been subjected to forced labour4.
1
(International Labour Organisation 2022)
2
(Amnesty 2022)
3
(Gov.UK, 2023)
4
(Kelly, 2014)
, Candidate Number:216820
Addressing Modern Slavery in the Global Supply Chain:
Collaboration, Barriers, and Opportunities
1.1.1.1 Defining the global supply chain and modern slavery
The network of global actors, individuals, companies, and organisations involved in producing
and distributing goods and services on a global scale is referred to in this paper as the global
supply chain. It covers every step of the process, from obtaining raw materials to creating,
shipping, and distributing products to clients. The emergence of e-commerce, technology, and
globalisation has intensified this and made it even more difficult to define the global supply chain
in the current day.
The paper clarifies modern slavery as a problem including complex safeguards and its very
deceptive and heinous nature. The use of force, deceit, greed, or compulsion to exploit people
for one's own or another's advantage is known as modern slavery. It can take many different
forms and frequently includes weak people who are denied their human rights. Millions of
people are impacted by this global problem, which represents a grave violation of human rights.
1.1.2. Purpose and importance of the study
In order to fight modern slavery in the global supply chain, this study aims to explore the type
and extent of partnerships between businesses, governments, non-governmental organisations,
and other stakeholders. This study attempts to identify the main obstacles and opportunities for
productive cooperation, as well as the best practices and suggestions for businesses and their
partners, by analysing the available literature and case studies of successful collaborations and
to recommend future research that is currently lacking in this area.
The significance of this study centres on its potential to aid in the creation of more practical and
long-lasting methods for preventing and eradicating modern slavery from the world's supply
chains. This study can assist businesses, governments, non-governmental organisations, and
other stakeholders in their attempts to collaborate to address this urgent issue by stressing the
vital role of cooperation and removing and reducing barriers in order to create effective
Addressing Modern Slavery in the Global Supply Chain:
Collaboration, Barriers, and Opportunities
Abstract
Millions of individuals and communities around the world are impacted by the phenomenon of
modern slavery, which is persistent and extensive in global supply networks. Companies must
work with governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to create and put into practise effective
policies to prevent and end modern slavery in their supply chains in order to solve this issue. In
order to emphasise the major obstacles and possibilities for productive collaboration, this
research analyses the nature and breadth of these collaborations. This study outlines a number
of obstacles to productive collaboration, including different priorities and interests, power
imbalances, and inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks, drawing on a review of the body
of current literature and case studies of successful collaborations. The paper makes the case for
a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder strategy that prioritises openness, responsibility, and the
defence of human rights in order to address these issues. In order to strengthen collaboration
and successfully address modern slavery in global supply chains, the paper finishes by offering
a series of best practices and suggestions for businesses and their partners.
1. Introduction
1.1.1. Background information on modern slavery in the global supply chain and a definition of
modern slavery and its forms
Modern slavery is a grave violation of human rights that affects as estimated by the International
Labour Organisation1 to around 50 million workers worldwide and has risen exponentially over
the last 5 years. Modern slavery has been found in the global supply chain in a number of
different industries, including agricultural, production, construction, and hospitality. For instance,
migrant workers in the Middle East have been subjected to forced labour and human rights
violations in the construction industry most recently seen in the construction of the stadiums
used to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar2, examples also include the InterContinental Hotels
Group in the UK3 was revealed to have long employed slave workers and the child labour has
been documented in the cocoa supply chain in West Africa. For instance, modern slavery is
prevalent in southeast Asia's electronics sector, where more than one-third of migrant workers
have had their passports seized and have been subjected to forced labour4.
1
(International Labour Organisation 2022)
2
(Amnesty 2022)
3
(Gov.UK, 2023)
4
(Kelly, 2014)
, Candidate Number:216820
Addressing Modern Slavery in the Global Supply Chain:
Collaboration, Barriers, and Opportunities
1.1.1.1 Defining the global supply chain and modern slavery
The network of global actors, individuals, companies, and organisations involved in producing
and distributing goods and services on a global scale is referred to in this paper as the global
supply chain. It covers every step of the process, from obtaining raw materials to creating,
shipping, and distributing products to clients. The emergence of e-commerce, technology, and
globalisation has intensified this and made it even more difficult to define the global supply chain
in the current day.
The paper clarifies modern slavery as a problem including complex safeguards and its very
deceptive and heinous nature. The use of force, deceit, greed, or compulsion to exploit people
for one's own or another's advantage is known as modern slavery. It can take many different
forms and frequently includes weak people who are denied their human rights. Millions of
people are impacted by this global problem, which represents a grave violation of human rights.
1.1.2. Purpose and importance of the study
In order to fight modern slavery in the global supply chain, this study aims to explore the type
and extent of partnerships between businesses, governments, non-governmental organisations,
and other stakeholders. This study attempts to identify the main obstacles and opportunities for
productive cooperation, as well as the best practices and suggestions for businesses and their
partners, by analysing the available literature and case studies of successful collaborations and
to recommend future research that is currently lacking in this area.
The significance of this study centres on its potential to aid in the creation of more practical and
long-lasting methods for preventing and eradicating modern slavery from the world's supply
chains. This study can assist businesses, governments, non-governmental organisations, and
other stakeholders in their attempts to collaborate to address this urgent issue by stressing the
vital role of cooperation and removing and reducing barriers in order to create effective
