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Article

8 Nov 2011

Author:
Oliver Balch, Guardian [UK]

The business of human trafficking

"There are more slaves today than in any time in human history", says Arkless, who heads up corporate and government affairs for Manpower, a global employment services firm...While most companies lament the problem, he says, they fail to see what it has to do with them...Companies need to see the issue as a "complete closed system" and develop integrated solutions for each phase of the problem. The criminal element must clearly be addressed. Working more closely with police, border authorities and other government agencies, companies can proactively help clamp down on trafficking networks. First in line should be ferry companies, airlines and other firms directly involved in transporting people...For companies that are vertically-managed, a mixture of carrots (such as a 'trafficking free' label) and sticks (like factory inspections and fines) could go a long way to ensuring compliance among key suppliers and sub-suppliers....Alongside audits, businesses should run preventative anti-trafficking programmes together with local unions and labour rights groups, says McQuade.