Modern slavery risk rises in Asia as pandemic hits fashion industry

Asian factories have become a hotbed for modern slavery over the past four years, with the risks likely to increase in the coming months due to the economic impacts of the pandemic, according to the latest Modern Slavery Index from global risk data and forecasting company Verisk Maplecroft.

The index, which ranks 198 countries globally, measures the risk to businesses of being associated with slavery, trafficking and forced labour in supply chains, operations and service providers.

According to the index, the risk of modern slavery is highest in North Korea, Yemen, Syria, South Sudan and Iran.

However, this year, it revealed that Bangladesh (18th highest risk globally), China (20th), Myanmar (23rd), India (25th), Cambodia (32nd), Vietnam (35th) and Indonesia (44th) all sit at their lowest point in the ranking since 2017.

Risks in these countries have been exacerbated particularly by the fashion industry, with millions of workers left without jobs as economic hardship hit the struggling sector.

In turn, workers are therefore more likely to turn to exploitative forms of work to make ends meet. 

The index also reveals that regulations and enforcement have become laxer in countries such as Bangladesh and India in recent years, with both recording a stark increase in modern slavery violations.

Verisk Maplecroft human rights analyst Sofia Nazalya said: “Travel restrictions and other measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 have left the ability of companies to carry out audits to ensure ethical working practices in their supply chains in disarray.

“The reputational risk to brands from association with modern slavery is, therefore, now higher than at any other time over recent years.”

The report comes as the UK is still embroiled in concerns over modern slavery in its own factories – bringing the issue to the forefront of consumers’ minds.