New Forced Labour Indicators tool from Sedex empowers businesses to tackle forced labour risks in supply chains

A new data tool from responsible business organisation Sedex highlights operational practices that indicate forced labour could be occurring at a worksite. The Forced Labour Indicators tool enables businesses to better identify potential instances of forced labour in their supply chains, supporting them to prevent and remedy this form of exploitation.

Highlights:

- Forced labour is a severe human rights abuse and form of labour exploitation. It is a critical issue for companies and can occur in any supply chain. The International Labour Organization estimates 24.9 million victims of forced labour globally.

- Forced labour is notoriously difficult to detect. Businesses need effective tools to help them address forced labour risks in their supply chain.

- The Forced Labour Indicators tool uses audit and risk data to draw attention to where forced labour is or could be an issue in a supply chain.

LONDON, May 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Responsible business organisation Sedex have announced their latest technology tool to support businesses in efforts to assess the risk of forced labour and combat human rights issues in supply chains.

Forced labour is a severe human rights abuse and the most extreme form of labour exploitation. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 24.9 million people worldwide are victims of forced labour^[i], with women and girls accounting for 58%.

This can make forced labour a salient issue for many companies where the risk is high – different countries, sectors and worker groups within sourcing operations present various levels of risk. In Sedex's risk tool, 40 countries indicate as "high risk" for forced labour.

Forced labour is notoriously difficult to detect. Businesses need effective tools, technology and insights to help them identify, remedy and prevent this critical issue in their supply chains. 

The Sedex Forced Labour Indicators tool uses data on sites in members' supply chains to draw attention to operational indicators of forced labour. These indicators can – independently or in combination – signify a risk of forced labour for workers.

"Sedex's mission is to help businesses improve working conditions and eliminate worker exploitation throughout their supply chains. Forced labour is extremely difficult to identify, but data is our ally here. Our Forced Labour Indicators tool is valuable in helping businesses with this challenging task, enabling them to prioritise taking action where the risks of forced labour are highest."