Modern slavery: the number of people forced into forced labor due to conflicts, the climate emergency and the pandemic is growing

The latest Global Slavery Index, produced by human rights group Walk Free, reveals that the 10 countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery are North Korea, Eritrea, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Turkey , Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Afghanistan and Kuwait. From the clothes we wear to the materials from which cell phones are made to the food in supermarkets, modern slavery permeates every aspect of life and society and taints the global economy through transnational supply chains. Modern forms of slavery are an extreme manifestation of inequality.

The causes. The Global Slavery Index reveals that the number of people living in modern slavery has grown since 2018 in a global context that is increasingly characterized by conflict, widespread environmental degradation, climate-induced forced migration, deterioration of women’s rights and in the last two years also from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The role of the G20. The report highlights the role played by G20 nations in fueling forced labor within global supply chains. The G20 countries account for more than half of all people living in modern slavery and import $468 billion of risky products each year. The United States was by far the largest importer of modern slave products, worth a total of $169.6 billion. Electronics is the highest valued product at risk at $243.6 billion, followed by apparel at $147.9 billion, palm oil at $19.7 billion, solar panels solar with $14.8 billion and textiles with $12.7 billion. The six nations with the largest number of people forced to experiment with the new forms of slavery are also part of the G20: India, with 11 million workers at risk, China with 5.8 million, Russia with 1.9 million, Indonesia with 1.8, Turkey with 1.3 and finally the United States with 1.1 million.

Climate change and slavery. The dossier also shows how climate emergencies have exacerbated modern slavery, forcing millions of people to migrate suddenly and in unplanned ways and thus exposing them to a greater risk of exploitation. It is a vicious circle: extreme weather events force people to move making them more vulnerable to slavery, but at the same time the high-risk sectors, i.e. those where it is easier to find slaves, are also the ones that contribute the most to environmental degradation: the mining, logging, textile and clothing manufacturing.

The numbers growing. Since 2018, the number of people living in modern slavery has risen to 50 million and government action is, for now, woefully inadequate. No country is on track to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially the goal to end modern slavery, forced labor and human trafficking by 2030. In recent years, Australia, Canada, Germany and Norway have introduced legislation that aims to hold companies accountable for the exploitation that occurs in global supply chains.

Walk Free’s recommendations. The non-governmental organization calls on governments around the world to take five key actions: Implement stronger measures to combat forced labor in public and private supply chains by introducing legislation to prevent governments and businesses from procuring forced labor-related goods or services modern slavery. Strive to ensure that human rights are always respected and integrated into policies to build a green economy. Always have the

compass of rights, especially when dealing with undemocratic countries, to ensure that any trade, business or investment does not benefit from forced labour. Focus on prevention and protection of the most fragile people by providing primary and secondary education for all children, including girls.