World Vision New Zealand is urging the country’s two main political parties to join together to progress modern slavery legislation, after MPs from both parties plan very similar Private Members Bill to address the issue.

Today, Labour’s Camilla Belich, announced she will lodge a Private Members Bill, Combatting Trafficking in Persons and Modern Day Forms of Slavery Bill, which seeks to introduce reporting requirements for businesses to address modern slavery in their operations and supply chains, , and stronger protections for victims and survivors of trafficking and slavery.

In April this year, National MP Greg Fleming put his Modern Slavery Reporting Bill as a Private Members Bill in the ballot which would require businesses to report on modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains.

World Vision’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, says there are aspects of both bills that are very similar which shows that MPs from both sides of the house want legislative change to combat forced labour, worker exploitation, child labour and trafficking.

“We’re thrilled to see support from both National and Labour for robust modern slavery legislation, but we can’t understand why they won’t work together to legislate on an issue they both fundamentally agree on.

“We want to see our politicians doing the right thing, rather than scoring political points. We want to see them come together to actually pass a Modern Slavery Act, not just talk about it! This could be the reality if National and Labour agreed to both back the same bill,” Armstrong says.

Under current Parliamentary Standing Orders, if 61 MPs agree to endorse a Private Member’s Bill then it can progress directly to first reading at Select Committee.

Armstrong urges both parties, and all MPs, to put politics aside and endorse one of the bills. She says MPs need to focus on doing the right thing. She says this is about people, not politics.

“Taking steps to address modern slavery is not something that should be politically contentious. We hope all parties will unite to end the trafficking of children, forced labour, and exploitative working conditions both overseas and here in New Zealand.”

Public and business support for modern slavery legislation is strong, with 8 out of 10 New Zealanders backing modern slavery legislation, according to an independent IPSOS poll[i] and nearly 40,000 signatures collected in a petition[ii] lodged with Parliament in 2021.

Armstrong says the business community is also calling for laws to address modern slavery so that Kiwi companies can retain a competitive edge in global markets.

“This year, New Zealand investors representing $295 trillion[iii] in assets under management wrote to the Prime Minister urging the Government to introduce modern slavery legislation. They want assurances that the companies they invest in are taking meaningful steps to identify and address human rights risks in their operations and supply chains,” Armstrong says.

She says transparent, consistent rules create a level playing field and give businesses the certainty they need to operate responsibly.

“It’s good for business, good for our trading relationships, and above all, the right thing to do.”
Armstrong says politicians need to take action now to support New Zealand businesses so that they are in a strong position to trade internationally, but also to support Kiwi consumers.

“Our politicians need to focus on the long term and do what’s right for the 50 million victim-survivors of modern slavery worldwide. This is a chance for Parliament to rise above partisanship and show ethical and economic leadership.

“If MPs from both major parties agree on the need for modern slavery legislation, then they should make this happen by working together,” she says.

[i] https://www.worldvision.org.nz/about/media/new-poll-shows-8-out-of-10-new-zealanders-support/

[ii] https://www.worldvision.org.nz/stories/advocacy/a-case-for-modern-slavery-legislation/

[iii] https://devonfunds.co.nz/sites/default/files/users/user22/Modern%20Slavery%20Legislation%20Investor%20Letter.pdf

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