Modern Slavery: A guide for companies and investors

Modern slavery risks, rights
and responsibilities

Corporate responsibility reporting has come a long way in the last decade. Australian companies, however, still fall short of their global peers on human rights reporting.

Australian modern slavery legislation necessitates a rapid response by companies yet to prioritise human rights risks. Like many human rights violations, the practices which place people in slavery-like conditions often remain hidden from view.

ACSI commissioned KPMG's human rights specialists to create a guide for business and investors to better understand modern slavery – the context, the key modern slavery risk factors, sectors at high risk of slavery like practices, and the practical questions to ask to prepare a response and report on it.

ACSI’s particular interest and focus is in supporting listed ASX200 companies to mature in their approach to non-financial disclosure, improve what is considered to be leading practice across corporate Australia, and facilitate conversations between investors, boards and executives around public reporting on modern slavery risk.

Investors, boards and executives will find the guidance section of the report particularly useful in aligning to modern slavery regulatory requirements. It includes a series of practical checklists, designed using leading global practice, allowing companies and investors to make preliminary assessments of readiness to respond to modern slavery risk.

Modern Slavery Act: How to prepare for mandatory due diligence

The 2023 Modern Slavery Act review recommended the introduction of mandatory modern slavery due diligence for businesses.

To understand your obligations and learn how to prepare and respond to strengthened modern slavery due diligence reporting requirements, read our report: Modern Slavery Act: Prepare for mandatory due diligence.