A report analysing efforts by large businesses to combat modern slavery in their supply chains has found that half failed to identify obvious risks and less than a third were taking effective steps to reduce risks.

Reporting on modern slavery was introduced in Australia two years ago but is only mandatory for large companies ($100m+) so the first set of reports do not comprehensively examine the risks or give a clear picture about the extent of the problem. As a result, there isn’t much momentum to encourage smaller businesses to take action.

The report, Paper Promises? Evaluating the early impact of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act is published by the Human Rights Law Centre and jointly authored by a coalition of human rights organisations, church groups and academics. It calls on the federal government to distribute advice and support to business to help them identify and eliminate modern slavery risks in their supply chains.

The issue is live for the design sector as bricks and construction materials and garments and footwear are known products at higher risk of modern slavery.

There are a number of measures that conscientious businesses should be adopting to respond to modern slavery. These include:

• avoiding shorter-term contracts, excessive focus on low prices, small batches and turnaround pressures

• adopting procedures to ensure prompt payment and that workers are not being charged recruitment fees

• thinking about your impact on supplier cash flow

• completing human rights due diligence on new suppliers at the selection stage

These responsible purchasing practices are within reach of most businesses and will help to ensure that the design sector is not contributing to the problem through ignorance or lack of care. Trade unions, migrant worker groups or civil society organisations are good sources of advice.

Further information on modern slavery and responsible business conduct is available from:

• the OECD (Organisation for Cooperation and Economic Development) provides explanations, tips and examples

• the UN (United Nations) provides guidance on its ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ framework for business and has published a toolkit with advice on adopting sustainable procurement processes

• the Department of Home Affairs outlines Australia’s legislation to combat modern slavery

• Border Force has fact sheets on modern slavery