Unveiling the Prevalence of Contemporary Slavery within International Supply Networks

In the quest for a more just and equitable world, the role of consumers cannot be understated. If consumers were willing to pay more for products that are not produced by slaves, it could potentially end modern slavery for all of us. This sentiment, reminiscent of the great American president and liberator Abraham Lincoln's words, "Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves," rings true today.

Modern slavery, in various forms, persists across the globe, trapping workers and their families across generations. Bonded labor, an abuse analogous to slavery, is a pressing issue, particularly in Pakistan where religious minorities, including Hindus and Christians, comprise less than 5% of the country's total population, yet the percentage of religious minorities in brick kilns is often as high as 50%.

The brick kiln owners in Pakistan have accumulated wealth on the broken backs of millions of the poorest and helpless laborers. The jamadar, a supervisor in these kilns, receives the equivalent of 20 bricks from every 1,000 made by each family they bring in for work, for as long as the family works for the kiln owner. This exploitative system has been in place for decades, leaving countless families trapped in poverty and bondage.

The 2023 Global Slavery Index estimates that 10.6 of every 1,000 people in Pakistan are in modern slavery. The government of Punjab has calculated that 1,000 bricks are valued at 1,110 Pakistani rupees, but a family making 1,000 bricks may be paid as little as 500 rupees for their work.

In other parts of the world, the issue of modern slavery is also prevalent. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), children are found working in mines, exposed to dangerous conditions and human rights violations. The cobalt used in rechargeable gadgets or electric vehicles may be tainted by these human rights violations and environmental destruction. A 2022 U.S. Bureau of International Labor Affairs report found that the DRC has made minimal progress in eliminating the worst forms of child labor, and the national army's complicity in the problem persists.

Consumer-facing tech and electric vehicle companies should not rely on assurances from state-run Chinese mining companies about human rights norms in the DRC, but should conduct their own on-ground research. Education and social media can be used to spread information about the origin of products and mark goods tainted by modern slavery. Labeling products as coming from Xinjiang, or as goods produced using children working in mines in the DRC or products identified as made by slave labor in brick kilns in Pakistan could make people think twice before purchasing those products.

Several companies source cobalt and other raw materials from Xinjiang, China, a region linked to reports of forced labor; this includes some battery and technology manufacturers, but specific company names are not definitively confirmed in the search results. The US Department of Homeland Security prioritizes enforcement against imports of minerals like copper and lithium from China’s Xinjiang region due to forced labor concerns, implicating supply chains involving these materials. However, precise lists of corporations directly sourcing from Xinjiang and whose products might involve forced labor remain undisclosed or under investigation.

The power of consumers and their spending power could radically tip the scales against injustice. Consumers must play a role in combatting slavery, and Gen Z consumers are willing to pay more for products that are environmentally sustainable. Independent, third-party schemes should be established to provide more trustworthy auditing of these supply chains. Making it easy for people to "put their money where their mouth is" is not as far-fetched as you might think.

Faith communities could also move us closer to restoring the basic human rights of millions of people who are needlessly suffering. Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani Christian child laborer, was taken into bonded labor at the age of four, later escaped, and campaigned against modern slavery before being murdered at the age of 12. His story, and the stories of countless others, serve as a reminder of the urgency to address modern slavery.

We must see slavery as an evil and extreme violation of fundamental human rights and human dignity. Harnessing the power of consumers and their spending power could bring about change and reshape the economics of multinational corporations that are complicit in slavery. William Wilberforce, a key figure in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, once said, "You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know." True then, and true now.

Unveiling the Prevalence of Contemporary Slavery within International Supply Networks