There are millions of men, women and children enslaved right now, all over the world - potentially on something any one of us will eat or wear. Slavery exists within multiple nations everyday, in dozens of industries. Each of us are connected to slaves somewhere, through the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the accessories we purchase.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that around 40.3 million people fall within the definition of modern slavery.
WALK FREE REPORTS THAT 1 IN 10 SLAVES ARE CHILDREN, 71% ARE WOMEN AND GIRLS AND $354 BILLION OF AT-RISK PRODUCTS ARE IMPORTED BY G20 COUNTRIES.
Forced labour is rampant in the agricultural industry, where victims can typically be found harvesting crops, raising and feeding animals, packing boxes. Domestic work is notorious for labour trafficking.
Factories, especially in the fashion and garment industry are known to lure workers into workplaces from other countries with the promise of working conditions that simply don't exist. Once workers arrive, they can't afford to leave.
Modern day slavery in the global seafood industry is a recurring issue where men from low-income households in Southeast Asia and the Pacific often take on jobs onboard fishing vessels under the false pretence of a decent salary and working conditions, but instead find themselves working long hours at sea under extreme labour conditions, receiving little to no pay.
Always ask who made your clothes. If you eat seafood, buy local and never buy imported seafood, especially shellfish. If you buy diamonds, precious stones or metals like gold, make sure you know where they came from or choose man made alternatives.