Modern Slavery Legislation

Canada Legislation:
As of July 2020, amendments to Canada’s Customs Tariff Act 1997 ban the import of goods made wholly or partially through forced labor.

In May 2023, the Canadian Parliament enacted the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (Bill S-211). This legislation requires government institutions and qualifying Canadian companies to submit annual reports detailing efforts to prevent and mitigate forced and child labor risks in their operations or supply chains. Non-compliance may result in fines of up to CAD 250,000.

United States Legislation:
California’s Transparency in Supply Chains Act 2010 requires businesses with gross annual receipts of $100 million to report on their anti-human trafficking efforts in direct supply chains.

Since 1930, the Tariff Act has empowered US Customs and Border Protection to issue "Withhold Release Orders" for goods suspected of involving forced or indentured labor.

The Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act of 2021 presumes that goods from the Xinjiang region of China involve forced labor, barring them from entering the US unless proven otherwise.

United Kingdom Legislation:

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 in the UK consolidates offenses related to slavery and trafficking, enables judicial restraining orders, allows asset confiscation, supports victims, and establishes an Anti-Slavery Commissioner. It also mandates organizations with a turnover exceeding £36 million to publish annual statements on actions taken to address slavery in their supply chains. Although the reporting requirement is not currently enforceable, a 2019 review recommended aligning it with Australia’s stricter framework. 

Australian Legislation:
Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 requires entities with an annual consolidated revenue of AUD 100 million or more to report on the risks of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. These entities must also outline the steps taken to identify, assess, and mitigate these risks. Reports are submitted annually to a central repository managed by the Australian Border Force, ensuring public transparency.

While the Act currently lacks financial penalties for non-compliance, organizations face reputational risks for failing to meet reporting obligations. The Australian Government is reviewing the Act to consider strengthening its enforcement mechanisms and aligning with international best practices.

New Zealand Legislation:
In April 2022, New Zealand proposed draft legislation aimed at combating modern slavery. The proposal requires organisations to:

• Act against modern slavery and worker exploitation across domestic and international supply chains.

• Have medium and large organizations disclose anti-slavery measures.

• Require large organizations to conduct due diligence to prevent modern slavery.

European Legislation:

The European Parliament introduced a new regulation in 2024 enabling the EU to prohibit the sale, import, and export of goods made using forced labour. The Forced Labor Regulation (FLR) requires the removal of any goods associated with forced labor from the EU market.

Non-compliance could lead to sanctions, fines, or exclusion from public contracts. 

France Legislation:

Under the Corporate Duty of Vigilance Law of 2017, French companies with over 5,000 employees must create and publicly disclose a vigilance plan. This plan identifies and mitigates risks related to human rights and the environment within their operations and supply chains. Non-compliance can result in judicial enforcement and financial penalties. 

Germany Legislation:

Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, passed in 2021 and effective from 2023, mandates companies with more than 3,000 employees (lowered to 1,000 in 2024) to assess, prevent, and report on human rights and environmental risks in their operations and supply chains. This includes addressing forced and child labor. Violations may result in substantial fines and exclusion from public contracts. 

Norway Legislation:

Norway’s Transparency Act, effective from July 2022, obligates companies with at least 50 employees to conduct annual human rights due diligence assessments and publish reports on their operations and supply chains. Individuals can request information about companies’ human rights risks and due diligence efforts.