Welcome to the UNSW Modern Slavery Map. Here you can learn more about modern slavery and how it affects you on a daily basis.
Modern slavery is an umbrella term that describes a range of abuses that exists along a continuum of exploitation. From forced labour and forced marriage, to human trafficking and deceptive recruitment practices, modern slavery is often hidden in the supply chains of the goods and services we use everyday.
Click on the icons to explore how you may encounter modern slavery while on campus, and discover what you can do to reduce you modern slavery footprint.
Coffee
Despite 2 billion cups of coffee being consumed worldwide on a daily basis, vulnerable coffee farm families and children face human rights abuses in 17 coffee growing countries. Workers earn less than 2% of the retail price of coffee and children often are not enrolled in schools in coffee producing regions in order to make US$12 a month. Before you sip your morning dose of caffeine, inquire more into the coffee bean.
Food
The ingrained nature of modern slavery is highlighted in the Australian food industry. There is a complex web of modern slavery exploitation rooted deep in the global supply chain. Hidden from our immediate vision are the labourers offshore who are routinely abused and underpaid on farms that produce food we consume.
Fashion
The clothing and garment industry is one of the 5 key industries implicated in modern slavery in Australia. Every year, Australia imports over US$4 billion worth of clothes and accessories at risk of being tainted by modern slavery, from countries such as China, Bangledessh and Vietnam. The next time you shop, consider the thread of modern slavery that may be woven through your t-shirt and ask yourself #whomademyclothes?
Construction
Workers in the property and construction industry account for 18% of modern slavery victims worldwide. Common practices include forced or unpaid work, unsafe conditions, child labour and sourcing raw materials from countries with a high risk of modern slavery. Whilst the demand for low-skilled labour may be high, the safety and conditions for workers should never be compromised.
Electronics
The cleaning industry in Australia is at high-risk of forced labour exploitation due to the nature of the workforce and a lack of transparency in its operations. Migrant workers, who make up a large proportion of both domestic and commercial cleaning sectors, are especially vulnerable to underpayment and debt bondage. Individuals and companies all have an important role to play, in cleaning up the dirty business of modern slavery.
Cleaning
A 2014 study found that nearly a third of migrant workers in Malaysia’s electronics sector are in situations of forced labour, where debt bondage and the confiscation of workers’ passports are common practices. Additional modern slavery risks exist in the resources used to manufacture electronics with materials such as tungsten, tin and gold often produced by forced labour in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Could the device you’re using to access this Map be the product of modern slavery?