The Australian Human Right Commission has released a guide to assist the resources and energy industries successfully address the Modern Slavery Act 2018.
The Act requires specific large companies to annually report upon their efforts to respond to risks of modern slavery in their global operations and supply chains.
The guide includes examples of contemporary practices from the industry and offer beneficial practice guidance.
For example, the guide highlights modern slavery risks common in the resources and energy industries.
It also offers tips for the resources and energy industries on the leading practices and a rights-based approach to handling a modern slavery risk.
Fostering transparent modern slavery reporting for the benefit of business, government, and the people at risk of harm is also featured in the guide.
Australian Human Rights Commission President Professor Rosalind Croucher said the guide was beneficial for the energy and resource industries.
“Taking a rights-based approach to addressing modern slavery will assist energy and resources companies,” Croucher said.
“[These companies must] meet the increasing expectations of investors, governments, clients, consumers, business peers and civil society concerning business respect for human rights.”
The guide was created as part of a partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission and KPMG Australia.
KPMG Australia chief purpose officer Richard Boele said the need to decarbonise impacts the energy and resource sectors in terms of modern slavery.
“This shift is creating increasing crossover between the resources and energy sector in both their operations and supply chains,” Boele said.
“It’s in this context that companies must challenge their thinking on where they’ll find risk to people. Transition is creating new and emerging human rights and social risks that we have to identify and understand.”
The guide is the final and fourth in a collection of guides specific to sectors.
To download the guide, click here.
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