Human trafficking - the buying and selling of people for the purpose of exploiting their labour - is now the world’s third largest transnational crime, behind drugs and arms. It’s a crime that is fuelled by the expanding demand of global consumers for cheap goods and services.
In Australia one of the biggest consumers is government. In 2007, Australian government agencies spent $29 billion purchasing goods and services and awarded nearly 90,000 contracts to suppliers.
As such a large consumer of goods, an Australian Government review of their procurement supply chain could positively impact labour exploitation in the Asia-Pacific region. Such an impact would have significant repercussions for the fight to end the transnational trade in human trafficking and slavery.
Take action today to combat child labour, human trafficking and other forms of labour exploitation: - Send an eCard to your Federal Member of Parliament.
Encourage him or her to ask the Australian Government to review their procurement supply chain, and work with local businesses in their communities to Clean up our electorate!
- Buy ethical products to ensure your choices don’t have a negative impact on the planet and its people.
The 2011 Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping is now available online as a booklet and even as an iPhone App.