Issues On Modern Day Slavery & Forced Labor Within Seafood Supply Chains
New code of conducts are being issued that directly take the seafood industry and its issues with human slavery and forced labor into a much more serious state. The seafood supply chain has been known for its involvement with increased forced labor and modern day slavery, which warrants a stronger push to eradicate this problem within any supply chain.
These new reports, that corresponds with World Seafood Congress, looks at and asks for new codes of conducts, information sharing, and audit disclosures to help take on ethical and social issues that involve the seafood supply chain and the United Kingdom.
Companies that deal heavily within the market of seafood have many of their suppliers deriving from South East Asia. Many reports indicate that issues involving forced human labor are from suppliers that are in this particular region. The World Seafood Congress looks to eradicate this issue from seafood supply chains but understands that this is a task that will take a great deal of time A report produced by Roger Plant of Seafish talks about how no country is immune to this problem and it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later:
“The issue of slavery and labour brokering in the seafood supply chain won’t go away and no country is immune to these activities. The only way to stop what is going on is through collective action by the seafood industry as a whole and across the globe.”
The support and push to increase visibility and share information is the focus on how World Seafood Congress and other organizations plan to take on forced human labor and slavery in this supply chain.
“The supply chain needs to find ways to share information and be proactive in reporting findings during audits, as well as pioneer joint investigations on issues such as slave labour which will provide benefits to everybody involved.”
Human slavery and forced labor are quickly becoming primary focuses within every industry in relation to their supply chains. Increasing awareness is key to moving forward and becoming compliant. With this increased support, educating your organization and supply chain on the impacts that forced labor has on social and ethical business practices will increase your visibility within your supply chain to ensure these issues don’t occur. To learn more about increased regulations that will affect supply chain management and to learn how to lower your risk, please click here.
