Modern Slavery Legislation

Canada Legislation:
Canada has taken a stronger, enforcement-oriented position on forced labour as part of its trade and human rights agenda. Changes to the Customs Tariff Act that took effect in 2020 banned the importation of goods made wholly or partly with forced labour, using border controls to prevent exploitative products from entering the country.

In 2023, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (Bill S-211) further reinforced this stance. The law requires certain private-sector organisations and public institutions to report annually on how they identify, assess, and address risks of forced and child labour in their operations and supply chains. In June 2026, Canada introduced Bill C-35 to strengthen enforcement through high-risk goods listings and enhanced supply chain tracing requirements. The Bill is not yet in force.

United States Legislation:
At the state level, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act requires certain large companies to disclose how they address forced labour and human trafficking risks within their direct supply chains. At the federal level, the Tariff Act of 1930 authorises U.S. Customs and Border Protection to detain shipments when there is evidence that goods were produced using forced or indentured labour. This prevents such products from entering the domestic market.

These authorities were reinforced by the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, which establishes a presumption that goods connected to the Xinjiang region are made with forced labour unless importers can demonstrate otherwise. Taken together, these measures signal clear expectations for thorough due diligence, dependable traceability, and evidence based sourcing for organisations importing goods into the United States.

United Kingdom Legislation:

The United Kingdom reinforced its approach to tackling modern slavery through the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which consolidated offences related to slavery, servitude, and human trafficking within a single legal framework. The legislation broadened the powers of courts and enforcement bodies to prevent exploitation, disrupt criminal networks, and safeguard victims. It also created the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to promote more coordinated prevention and enforcement efforts.

The Act introduced a corporate transparency requirement. It obliges organisations above a specified turnover threshold to publish annual statements. These statements outline how modern slavery risks are identified and managed across their operations and supply chains. Although this has increased public disclosure, the lack of financial penalties has constrained enforceability. A 2019 independent review recommended stronger compliance measures, highlighting growing expectations that transparency should be supported by practical action and clear accountability.

Australian Legislation:

Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 established a mandatory reporting framework for organisations with consolidated annual revenue of at least AUD 100 million. Entities that fall within scope must publish an annual statement outlining how they identify, assess, and manage modern slavery risks across their operations and supply chains. These statements are made publicly available through a government register overseen by the Australian Border Force.

While the Act does not currently impose financial penalties for reporting failures, the consequences of non-compliance can still be significant. Weak reporting or ineffective governance may lead to public identification, reputational harm, and closer scrutiny from investors, customers, regulators, and civil society groups. In July 2026, the Australian Government announced proposed reforms that would introduce civil penalties for breaches of existing reporting obligations and a new criminal offence for companies that fail to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains. These reforms are not yet in force but indicate a shift towards stronger accountability and risk management.

New Zealand Legislation:
In 2022, the New Zealand Government signalled a stronger direction on modern slavery and worker exploitation through the release of draft legislative proposals. These proposals indicate a move away from passive transparency toward more active responsibility. Organisations are expected to take reasonable and proportionate steps to identify and address modern slavery risks. This applies across both domestic operations and international supply chains.

From a corporate responsibility standpoint, the draft framework places greater weight on accountability and prevention. Reporting requirements would apply on a tiered basis. Medium and large organisations would be expected to publicly outline the actions they are taking to prevent modern slavery. Larger entities would also face additional expectations, such as formal human rights due diligence. Collectively, the proposals show an intention to align New Zealand’s approach with developing international standards and to reinforce the role of business in actively managing ethical supply chains.

European Legislation:

In 2024, the European Parliament adopted the Forced Labour Regulation, marking a major step in how the European Union tackles forced labour in global supply chains. The regulation grants authorities the power to investigate suspected cases of forced labour and to prevent goods made under such conditions from being placed on, sold within, or exported from the EU market. Where breaches are confirmed, products may be prohibited and required to be removed from circulation.

From a corporate responsibility perspective, the Regulation signals a decisive move toward prevention through trade enforcement. Failure to comply can result in financial penalties, regulatory measures, and exclusion from public procurement opportunities. It significantly raises expectations for supply chain traceability, strong human rights due diligence, and evidence-based risk management. It reinforces that organisations operating in or trading with the EU are expected to actively prevent forced labour. They cannot rely on disclosure alone.

France Legislation:

France has strengthened expectations for responsible business conduct through the Corporate Duty of Vigilance Law, which applies to certain large companies operating in the country. This legislation creates mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence duties. It requires organisations within scope to prepare, implement, and publicly disclose a vigilance plan. This plan outlines how risks are identified, prevented, and mitigated across their operations and supply chains.

From a corporate responsibility standpoint, the framework moves the emphasis from passive monitoring to active stewardship. Non compliance can result in legal proceedings and financial penalties, highlighting the need for documented processes, strong governance, and clear evidence of action. The law sends a clear message that managing human rights and environmental impacts must be an ongoing, accountable effort embedded within everyday business operations and commercial relationships.

Germany Legislation:

Germany has strengthened expectations for responsible business conduct through the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which took effect in 2023. The law introduces mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence duties for large organisations operating in Germany. It requires them to systematically identify, prevent, and report on risks within their own activities and across their supply chains. This includes exposure to forced and child labour. An expansion in 2024 lowered the employee threshold, significantly broadening the number of organisations covered and the overall reach of the framework.

From a corporate responsibility standpoint, the Act reinforces the expectation that businesses take an active and ongoing role in safeguarding human rights. Non compliance can lead to substantial fines and exclusion from public procurement, highlighting the importance of documented processes, consistent oversight, and effective risk management. The legislation signals a clear shift toward sustained due diligence and accountable supply chain stewardship rather than reliance on one time assessments or disclosure alone.

Norway Legislation:

Norway strengthened expectations for responsible business conduct through the introduction of the Transparency Act, which came into force in 2022. The Act applies to companies that meet defined size thresholds and establishes mandatory human rights due diligence duties. Organisations within scope must assess risks across their own operations and supply chains and publicly explain how those risks are identified, managed, and addressed.

A distinctive element of the framework is its strong focus on openness. Individuals have the right to request information about a company’s human rights impacts and the steps taken to prevent or reduce harm. From a corporate responsibility perspective, this creates significant pressure on organisations operating in Norway. They are expected to maintain thorough due diligence processes and clear accountability. They must also provide credible evidence that identified risks are being actively managed in practice.