Approximately 21 million around the globe are victims of modern slavery, a number that has grown significantly over the last year as a result of the escalating migrant crisis in Europe, reveals an annual study...According to the Modern Slavery Index [by Verisk Maplecroft]...risks have risen in nearly three quarters of the 28 member states of the European Union...Romania and Italy...have the worst reported violations in the EU, including severe forms of forced labor, such as servitude and trafficking...Turkey experienced the world's second largest drop...slipping into the 'high risk' category...US [ranked] 'medium risk'...dangerously close to the 'high risk' threshold...partially due to a recent crackdown on undocumented migrants..."...Increases in such violations pose a risk to companies sourcing goods from the US, especially from the agricultural sector, as well as within the services industry." [according to analyst at Verisk Maplecroft]...Thailand and India both demonstrated significant improvement...but slavery still remains a significant problem.  In India, severe forms of slavery are common in construction, brick kilns, garment production, manufacturing and farming; while in Thailand, the worst abuses still frequently occur in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, fishing and rubber production...