Modern Slavery

Modern Slavery: Understanding the Reality

The term slavery is powerful. It evokes strong, often visceral images—people in chains, confinement, or dramatic rescue. But the reality of modern slavery—forced labour, trafficking, and severe exploitation—rarely looks like the cinematic version.

Today, modern slavery most often looks like ordinary work. It’s happening on farms, in factories, in homes and offices—anywhere in the world. What binds people in these situations isn’t always visible. The chains are often financial, psychological, or rooted in systemic vulnerabilities.

Importantly, forced labour is frequently not a single event but a cumulative experience. It can be the result of repeated, minor abuses—underpayment, threats, excessive recruitment fees, or restrictions on movement—that, when layered over time, create conditions of coercion and control.

Spotting and Preventing Exploitation

Preventing modern slavery begins with clarity. We must understand what it is—and what it isn’t?

That means asking the right questions:

• What signs should we be looking for?

• What factors increase someone’s vulnerability?

• How might company policies, recruitment practices, or commercial pressure points inadvertently contribute to exploitation?

Too often, harm is enabled not just by bad actors, but by gaps in systems that fail to see or protect the most at-risk individuals. Prevention isn’t just about identifying abuse—it’s about recognising where business decisions intersect with human vulnerability, and responding early.

At Ethical Impact, we help companies, students, and civil society organisations navigate this complexity —bridging practical know-how with a grounded understanding of human rights risk.