Australia to bolster modern slavery laws amid Trump tariff threat
Albania’s government is proposing tougher modern slavery laws after the US threatened to impose tariffs on countries that fail to stop forced labor in their supply chains, including Australia.
Companies with turnover of more than $100 million a year could face criminal charges if they fail to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains, under the proposal announced on Thursday.
To defend themselves, accused companies will need to prove that they “took reasonable steps to prevent modern slavery”.
“Australians rightly expect the products they buy to not be produced on the basis of modern slavery, which is why the Albanian government is introducing a tough legal framework,” Attorney General Michelle Rowland said.
“The proposed changes will provide greater accountability, leveling the playing field for the majority of Australian businesses who are already doing the right thing.
“We will continue to work closely with stakeholders to inform the design of proposed legislative changes, ensuring we strengthen efforts to combat modern slavery while continuing to support Australian businesses.”
Australia was among 54 economies that the Trump administration said had “failed” to take adequate action to stop imports of forced labor goods.
He threatened an additional tax of 12.5 percent.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address imports of goods made using forced labor is unacceptable,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said last month.
“This creates a dynamic in which American workers are forced to compete globally on an uneven playing field.
“We will no longer tolerate this inequality”
Mr Greer welcomed some countries “taking initial steps to prevent imports of forced labor goods” but said “each of our trading partners must do more to ensure that trade does not perversely encourage and entrench forced labor globally”.
According to the Global Slavery Index, approximately 50 million people are trapped in modern slavery; This is most common in electronics and clothing manufacturing centers in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Modern slavery, which includes forced labour, debt bondage and servitude, is a crime under Australian law even if it occurs overseas.
