(May 23, 2019) –
MISSISSAUGA, ON – A new study released today finds Canadian companies acknowledge that modern slavery in corporate supply chains is a priority issue which requires action, including through potential legislation. While 76% of respondents believe that supply chain legislation could benefit their company, 89% of companies have experienced challenges gaining internal attention on the issue, according to researchers.
The report, ‘The Straight Goods: Canadian Business insights on Modern Slavery in Supply Chains’ is a collaboration between researchers at the
Schulich School of Business’ Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business (
COERB), the
Shareholders Association for Research and Education (
SHARE) and World Vision Canada, and is being released as the Government of Canada launches public consultations on potential supply chain legislation.
“We heard from 26 large and mid-sized companies from a wide range of industries and, while our sample does not represent all companies in Canada, it is evident that many companies acknowledge that modern slavery is a relevant and important issue that needs to be addressed,” says Kam Phung, the project’s lead researcher, and Schulich PhD candidate. “Moreover, the majority of the companies that we spoke to believe legislation can be effective and welcome the Government of Canada’s decision to launch consultations on supply chain legislation.”
“This is the first study of its kind in Canada,” says Delaney Greig, Manager of Engagement and Policy, SHARE. “It draws out key insight from Canadian companies to inform the federal government’s consultations on a legislative framework. It also supports responsible investors and companies in having frank conversations about the limits of their current practices and how they can take further action to address child labour, forced labour, and other human rights violations.”
“It’s encouraging that Canadian companies recognize the need to take action against modern slavery and human rights abuses in our supply chains,” says Michael Messenger, President and CEO, World Vision Canada. “Canada needs to act. It has fallen behind other significant jurisdictions who have enacted legislation, including the UK, France, Australia. Those who are being exploited in global supply chains, especially children, who are most at risk of harm from violence, need the Canadian government, companies, and other stakeholders to take urgent action.”
Report Key findings:
- Companies acknowledge that modern slavery is relevant to their supply chains though not all companies pay attention to the same aspects of the issue. The majority of companies surveyed (57%) do not look at modern slavery in isolation, but as part of a broader focus on human rights.
- 89% of companies have experienced challenges gaining internal attention on the issue.
- Although modern slavery most often lurks in the lower tiers of global supply chains, less than 1/3 of companies surveyed (29%) indicated that they are actively looking beyond their first tier of suppliers
- 76% of companies believe that supply chain legislation could benefit their company by driving action to address modern slavery.
- 94% of companies feel positive (65%) or neutral (29%) about the Government of Canada’s announcement to initiate consultation on possible supply chain legislation; only 6% felt negative
MEDIA RESOURCES
- Full report: ‘The Straight Goods: Canadian Business insights on Modern Slavery in Supply Chains’: HERE
- Government of Canada consultations page: HERE
Editor’s note: The term ‘modern slavery’ is not defined in international law, nor does it have a universally agreed upon definition. For the purposes of this report, modern slavery was defined as forced labour (including bonded labour, slavery and human trafficking), and child labour, particularly the
worst forms of child labour. Modern slavery is often connected to a range of labour and human rights abuses that urgently need to be addressed in global supply chains.