ModernSlaveryandWomen’sEconomicEmpowermentDiscussionDocument

Howincreasingtheeconomicempowermentofwomeninyourvaluechaincanreducetheriskofmodernslavery

ABOUTTHISDOCUMENT:ThisdocumenthasbeenpreparedbyGerryBoyleandLaurenShieldsaspartoftheDFIDWorkandOpportunitiesprogramme.

July2018

Tableofcontents1. ExecutiveSummary.................................................................................................................3

2. Introduction............................................................................................................................5

3. WomenandtheRiskofModernSlavery.................................................................................7

WomenandModernSlavery..........................................................................................................7

Women,vulnerabilityandtheriskofModernSlavery.................................................................10

4. HowcanourWEEexperiencesupporttacklingModernSlavery?...........................................14

UsingtheUNHighLevelPane’sWomen’sEconomicEmpowermentFrameworktotacklemodernslavery.............................................................................................................................14

5. Practicesandpolicies............................................................................................................22

6. Conclusion............................................................................................................................23

7. Usefulresources...................................................................................................................24

ModernSlavery............................................................................................................................24

Women’sEconomicEmpowerment.............................................................................................24

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1. ExecutiveSummaryAtanygiventime,some16millionpeoplearoundtheworldarevictimsofforcedlabourexploitationintheprivatesector(notincludingsexualexploitation),affectingnearly9.5millionwomen.Nearlyhalfofvictimsareinsectorsofparticularconcerntointernationalbusiness:theconstructionsector(18percent),manufacturing(includinggarments)(15percent),andagricultureandfishing(11percent)sectors.

An analysis by DFID of the key risk factors for Modern Slavery highlights why there is such aprevalence of women as victims of forced labour exploitation: marginalisation, concentration ininformal and precarious work, and lack of education and skills – all contributing to thedisempowermentwhichmarkswomenoutasbeingmorelikelytosuffermodernslavery.

TheDFIDWorkandOpportunitiesforWomenprogrammeissetuptoaddressthedisempowermentwhich exposes women to modern slavery, but through the prism of women’s economicempowerment,andinparticulardignified,equal,andeconomicallyempoweringworkforwomeninglobal value chains.WOWsupports the identificationofwherewomenare in global value chains,whattheyaredoing,andwhatistheirstatus.Further,wearedevelopingtencorporatepartnershipsto economically empower 300,000 women and provide learnings to broader business on whatworks.

Manyofthedriversofmodernslaveryandtheobstaclespreventingtheeconomicempowermentofwomen are the same. This report suggests that by using the lens of women’s economicempowerment businesswill be better able to identify necessary actions across their entire valuechaintoreducetheriskofmodernslaveryandatthesametimecreatepositiveimpactforwomen.

Toachieveprogress,businessshouldtakethefollowingactionstoembedprogressivepracticesandpolicies:

1. Use a gender analysis across the value chain to understand risks as a crucial part ofcomprehensivehumanrightsduediligence

2. Investincapacitybuildingthroughoutthevaluechain

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3. Ensure regular employment and a move away from casual, outsourced, and temporaryemployment.

4. Ensurefreedomofassociationandcollectivebargaining

5. Advocate for change in government policy that ensures awell-regulated jobmarket andadequatelevelsofsocialsupport.

6. Gather,useandsharebetterdataontheroleswomenplayandsupplychainsaswellasthelabourconditionstheyface.

7. Shareinformationonyoursupplychain,duediligence,targetsandprogress

WOWwillbesupportingthisagendaoverthenextfewyearsbyincreasingvisibilityaroundwomenworkers inglobalvaluechains, improvingoutcomesforwomenin informalwork,addressingsocialnorms and improving women’s voice, and access to decision-making. We therefore are invitingcompaniestacklingmodernslaveryandimprovingwomen’seconomicempowermenttocontactusandseehowwecanbestworktogether.

To contact theWOW programme to understandmore about our work and howwe can supportbusinesses to make a difference, email Gerry Boyle of the WOW team at:boyle@careinternational.org

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2. IntroductionManybusinessesaretodaymuchmoreawareofthescourgeofmodernslaveryandthepossibilityofitsexistence intheirsupplychains. TheUK‘spioneeringModernSlaveryActof2015hascertainlyled to much greater awareness within the UK, and subsequent legislation including the FrenchCorporate Vigilance law and the plannedAustralianModern Slavery law, have led tomuchwiderinternational appreciation of the issue. Further, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmentincludes a global commitment (Goals 5.2 and 8.7) to ending forced labour, modern slavery, andhumantrafficking1.

Nobusinesscanbeconfidentofstandards in itsvaluechainunless ithas takenextensivesteps toanalyse,understandandamelioratethepositionofwomen.However,todatethegeneralthrusthasbeento focuson identifyingtheriskofmodernslavery in thevaluechain,andamongsomemoreprogressivecompanies,attemptstotacklespecifichighriskareas.

Thisonlygoessofarintacklingmodernslaveryandalsoofreducingtheriskofitinsupplychains.Toreallytacklemodernslavery,businesshastoplayastrongerandmoresystemicroleinremovingthekeyfactorswhichdrivemodernslavery.

WomenareatparticularriskoffallingfoulofModernSlaveryduetotheirmarginalisationandthepoverty and social norms which drives them into high risk situations. Women’s economicempowermentprovidesavaluablefocusforcompaniestoanalyseandaddressthefactorsthatdrivemodernslavery,withanaimtoreductionandeventualeradication.

Thisdocument

- ExplorestheroleWEEcanplayinreducingtheriskofmodernslavery

- IdentifieslessonslearnedfromWEEinterventionswhichcanbeappliedinfutureworktopreventmodernslaveryinglobalsupplychains

- Makesrecommendationsonhowbusinessescanapplytheselessonstotheirworkinempoweringwomenandfightingmodernslavery

Our framework (Figure1)usesaDFID-developedanalysisof the risk factors, andwehighlight theimportance of disempowerment. We then take (and slightly adopt) the UN High level Panel onWomen’sEconomicEmpowerment framework toallowus to identifyactions thatbusiness shouldtakeacrossthevaluechain.

1Seeforinstance:http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/dw4sd/themes/forced-labour/WCMS_558561/lang--en/index.htm

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Figure1:WOWFrameworkforModernSlaveryandWEE

Manycompaniesareintheearlystagesoftheirunderstandingofthestatusofwomenintheirvaluechains,andinformulatingtheirresponsetomodernslavery.Wethereforehopethatoursuggestedagendaforbusinesswillprovokeadebatewhichwillhelptoclarifyforeveryonehowbesttoachieveresultsintheseimportantdevelopments.

WorkandOpportunitiesforWomen(WOW)WorkandOpportunitiesforWomen(WOW)isaninnovativeprogrammefundedbytheUKDepartmentforInternationalDevelopment(DFID).WOWisbeingdeliveredbyanallianceofglobalexpertsatthecuttingedgeofwomen’seconomicempowermentresearch,programdesign,anddelivery—includingPwC,BSR,CAREInternational,theUniversityofManchester,andSocialDevelopmentDirect.WOWaimstoenhancetheeconomicempowermentof300,000womenworkinginglobalvaluechainsby2022.Business,astheengineoftheglobaleconomy,hasanimportantroletoplayinachievingthisgoal.TheWOWconsortiumwillestablish10businesspartnerships/initiativesthatwillenabledignified,equal,andeconomicallyempoweringworkforwomen.Wewillalsosupportcivilsocietyorganisationstotackleasmallnumberofkeyissuesaffectingwomen’sopportunitiesinglobalvaluechains.

Wewillbepublishinganddisseminatingresearchandguidanceforcompanies,civilsocietyandgovernmentsbasedonourprogrammefindingsandbroaderknowledgeandexperience.Thisreportisthefirstinaseriesofdocumentsaimedatimprovingunderstandingofwomen’seconomicempowermentandcatalysingactiontoaddressthekeyissueswhichholdbackwomenaroundtheworld.

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3. WomenandtheRiskofModernSlavery

TheUK’sModernSlaveryActdefinesmodernslaveryas“holdingapersoninslaveryorservitudeorrequiringaperson toperform forcedorcompulsory labour”asdefinedbyArticle4of theHumanRights Convention.2 Modern Slavery takes many different forms, including forced labour, debtbondage, human trafficking, forced sexual exploitation, descent-based slavery, child slavery andforcedandearlychildmarriage.

Whilebusinesshasaroletoplayincombatingallformsofmodernslavery,inthisdocumentweareconcentrating on forced and bonded labour and trafficking, as these are the forms of modernslaverymostlikelytobepresentwithinthecompanyvaluechainswhicharethefocusoftheWorkandOpportunitiesforWomenprogramme.

WomenandModernSlavery

70%of the40.3millionpeople inmodern slavery arewomenand girls. Whenbrokendown intodifferent forms of modern slavery, females are overrepresented in forced labour (59%), forcedmarriage (84%), and forced sexual exploitation (99%). At any given time, some16million peoplearound the world are victims of forced and bonded labour and trafficking in the private sector,affectingnearly9.5millionwomen.3

2UKModernSlaveryAct

3http://www.alliance87.org/2017ge/modernslavery#!section=2

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Figure2:ModernSlaverybyGender

Takenfromhttp://www.alliance87.org/2017ge/modernslavery#!section=2

Further,itisestimatedthatnearlyhalfofvictimsareinsectorsofparticularconcerntointernationalbusiness: the construction sector (18per cent),manufacturing (including garments) (15per cent),and agriculture and fishing (11 per cent) sectors4.WOWhas a particular focus onmanufacturing(garments)andagriculture.

Whilst there arehigh risk geographies, value chains and industries,modern slaveryoccurs almosteverywhere – developed and developing countries; stable states and fragile states; across allcontinents5.

Therearemanyincentivesforsupplychainactorstoexploitmodernslavery:,theConsumerGoodsForumestimatesthatillicitrevenuesfromforcedlabourstandat$150billionayear.6Whatcanbedonetotackletheissue?Companiescannotrelyongovernmentsinsupplycountries.Thereisadearthofanti-modernslaverylegislation,andevenwiththeUK’sworld-leadinglegislation,thereareseriousconcernsaboutitseffectiveness7.Evenmoreimportantly,researchsuggeststhatlegislationbanningformsofmodernslavery–suchastraffickingandchildlabour-canbecounterproductiveandthatmorestressshouldbeputonimprovinglabourandworkingconditions.8 4GlobalEstimatesofModernSlavery,InternationalLabourOrganizationandWalkFreeFoundation,Geneva,2017

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/documents/publication/wcms_575479.pdf5ConsumerGoodsForum,“BusinessActionsAgainstForcedLabour”https://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/wp-

content/uploads/2017/12/The-Consumer-Goods-Forum-Social-Sustainability-Business-Actions-Against-Forced-Labour-Booklet.pdf6https://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/The-Consumer-Goods-Forum-Social-Sustainability-Business-

Actions-Against-Forced-Labour-Booklet.pdf

7Seeforinstance:https://www.corporateaccountabilitynetwork.net/editorials/2017/5/8/how-strong-a-model-is-the-uk-modern-slavery-

act8 Idris,I.(2017)“Interventionstocombatmodernslavery”K4Dhelpdeskreport255,Brighton,UK,InstituteofDevelopmentStudies

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ModernSlaveryinBrazil’sGarmentIndustry

• Brazilhasthefourthlargestapparelindustryintheworldwhichemploysnearly1.5millionworkersdirectlyand8millionworkersindirectly,75%ofwhomarewomen.Smallfactoriesandsewingshopsdominateproduction,largelytargetingthedomesticmarket:60percentofBraziliantextilemanufacturersemployfewerthanfivepeople.Theinformalsectorrepresentsanestimated20percentofproductionandispoorlyregulated.Thefragmentationandinformalityoftheindustrymakesitopaqueandleadstosignificantandrecurrenthumanandlabourrightsviolations,includingforcedlabour.

• Migrantwomenaredisproportionatelyatriskofbecomingvictimsofforcedlabourintheinformalsector.Anestimated300,000-380,000Bolivianmigrants,mostlywomen,workintheinformalapparelgarmentsectorandmostofthemworkinconditionsanalogoustoslavery.WorkersarebroughttoBrazilillegallybyhumantraffickers,whoretaintheiridentificationdocumentsandplacetheminsewingshopswithoutcontractsorlegalprotections.Theshopsdonotadheretominimumwagerequirements,establishedworkinghours,oruseofcontracts.

• Thewomenworkingintheinformalsectoraretypicallyyoungindigenouswomen,comingfromruralsettings,withloweducationlevelsandlittleornoSpanishorPortugueselanguage.TheseworkersaremarginalizedinBrazilandlacklegalstatus,whichmeanstheyhavefewoptionstochangetheirpositionorearnalivelihoodelsewhere.Insomecases,womenworkersearnenoughtoescapeforcedlabourandestablishtheirownsewingshop,onlytouseforcedlabourpracticestoemployothermigrantwomenworkers.

Thesolutiontomodernslaverythereforereliesheavilyonbusinesssteppinguptoplayamajorrole.However,improvinglabourandworkingconditionsiscomplex–evenwithoutapplyingasystematicgenderlens.Wethereforeneedtolookinmoredetailatwhatdrivesmodernslavery,whatcanbedonetoaddressthoserootcausesandwhataresomeoftheobstaclesinthewayofbusinessdoingso.

Fromhttps://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/latin-america-investigates/2016/12/brazil-slaves-fashion-161229063654192.html;http://texbrasil.com.br/en/press/brazilian-textile-and-apparel-sector-in-2015/IBGE,CentralBusinessregister,2015InterviewCentrodeApoioePastoraldoMigranteJune18

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Women,vulnerabilityandtheriskofModernSlavery

DFIDhavedevelopedaconceptualframeworktohelp improveunderstandingofthekeydriversofmodernslavery:9

Figure3:DFIDModernSlaveryConceptualFramework

The prevalence of women and girls as victims ofmodern slavery follows from the prevalence ofwomenandgirlsinmanyofthesevulnerablegroups,ashighlightedbyDFIDresearch10andtheworkoftheUNHighLevelPanelonWomen’sEconomicEmpowerment11:

1. Socially and economically marginalised or disempowered (gender, ethnicity, age,disability)

Whilsta rangeof factors lead tomarginalisationanddisempowerment, it is clear thatgender isaparticularlystrongfactor:ofover750millionpeoplestilllivinginextremepoverty,girlsandwomenare disproportionately affected. Access to services, for example secondary and higher education,remainshighlyunequal.Globalindicatorsmasksignificantregionaldisparities,particularlyinfragileand conflict affected states. Improvements in laws to promote gender equality often do nottranslate into change on the ground, where deep-rooted discrimination persists; and we arewitnessingreversalsinwomen’srightsinsomecases.

9DFID:HowdowecurrentlyunderstandLeaveNoOneBehindinthecontextofmodernslavery?MoragPatrick,MigrationandModernSlaveryDepartment

10DFIDStrategicVisionforGenderEquality

11UNHighLevelPanelonWomen’sEconomicEmpowerment–FullReport

Sociallyandeconomicallymarginalisedordisempowered(gender,ethnicity,age,disability)

Low-skilledeconomicmigrants

Humanitariancrisis-affectedgroups

Unemployedorprecariouslyemployed

Uneducated/poorlyskilled

Householdssufferingcrises(financial,health,abuse)

Familiesofvictims&formervictims

Vulnerabilityintersects(e.g.childrenonthemove)

ModernSlaveryconceptualframework

Permissiveenvironment

Vulnerablegroups

ModernSlaveryIndustry

States

Business

Society

Organisedcrimegroups

Exploitativerecruitmentagents orbrokers,moneylenders

Traffickers

Armedgroups

Labourcontractors,labourintermediariesandgangmasters

Exploitativeformalworkplacese.g.factories,farms,mines

Exploitativeinformaleconomyandsmallbusinessownerse.g.marketstalls

Illegalworkplaces,e.g.drugfarms,brothels

Homeowners(domesticexploitation)

Formervictims

Othermigrants

Modernslaveryindustryrecruitsandcontrolsvictimsthrough:

Deception

Endemicexploitativepractices

Coercionandisolation

Financialopportunismandcoercion

Legalthreats

Physicalthreat

Thestate,businessandsocietyhelp

perpetuatemodernslaverythrough:

Weaklegalprotections

Ineffectivelawenforcement

Statecomplicity

Failuresinvictimidentification,support

&redress

Weaklabourgovernance

Harmfulbusinessmodels

Restricted labourrights

Socialcomplicity

Peoplearevulnerabletomodernslavery

becauseof:

Disenfranchisement

Indebtednessandfinancialneed

Restrictedincomeoptions

Constrainedparentaldecision-making

Vulnerablemigrants

Isolatedchildren

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2. Low-skilledeconomicmigrants

Marginalisationandlackofopportunityisamajorpressuretomigrateinadesperatesearchforanyincome,andmaythusimmediatelypushwomenintothehandsoftraffickers.Themigrantmovingto a new environment may then face language barriers, risky and dangerous work and housingconditions, violence and harassment, andmay be unable or unwilling to access health and socialservices because of government restrictions and discriminatory attitudes and behaviours of staff.Theymayalsofacelonelinessanddepression.Allofthesevulnerabilitiesareheightenedifamigrantis illegal or unauthorised.12 Within a precarious legal situation, they are vulnerable to abuse byemployers.

12 https://insights.careinternational.org.uk/media/k2/attachments/EMPHASIS-Vulnerabilities-of-movement.pdf

ModernslaverywithintheteaindustryinBangladeshThereareover100,000teaworkersspreadover160-plusteagardensinBangladesh,withthetotalpopulation(includingfamilymembers)reachingover400,000

• Workingconditions-workingconditionsofteaworkersareextremelypoor,characterisedbylonghours,lowpay,inadequateaccommodation,andverylimitededucationandhealthcarefacilities.

• LackofrootsinBangladesh-TheteaindustryinBangladeshwasestablishedbytheBritishinthe1800s.TheoverwhelmingmajorityofteagardenworkersinthecountryaredescendantsofimmigrantsbroughtinbytheBritishfromIndia.ThismeanstheyhavenoplaceotherthantheteagardenstogotoinBangladesh.

• Marginalisation-TeagardenworkersaresociallyandeconomicallyexcludedinBangladesh,andthushavenegligibleopportunitiestofindalternativework.Socially,theyliveandworkintheteagardensandhavehardlyanyinteractionwiththemainstreampopulation,whoalsolookdownonthembecausetheyaretypicallylowcasteHindus.

• Thepaymentsystemintheteagardens(particularlyforleafpickers)promotesmodernslavery:workershavetoreachdailytargets(typically23kg)andhavetheirwagescutiftheyfallshort–manythusworklongerhoursorropeinfamilymembers(e.g.children)toensuretheymeetthetarget.

• Weakenforcementoflabourlegislation-Teagardenworkersarecoveredbylabourlegislation,notablytheBangladeshLabourAct2006,whichprovidessignificantrights.However,teaworkershavefewerrightsthanworkersinothersectorswithregardtocasualandearnedleave.Thebiggerissueislackofenforcementoflabourrights.

• Ineffectualunionrepresentation-Teagardenworkersusedtoberepresentedbyanumberofunionsbutthesewererenderedineffectivebyin-fighting.Thereisnowjustonemajorunionforteaworkers,butthisishamperedbylackofcapacity,resourcesandunionleadersbeing‘boughtoff’byteagardenowners.

• Notapoliticalpriority-Politicalpartieshaveshownnegligibleinterestintheplightofteagardenworkers.TheAwamiLeague’s2008electionmanifestohadonementionofteaworkers’rights,butwheninpowerthepartydidverylittleoverthenextfewyearstohelpthem.Otherpartiesdidnotmentionthemintheirmanifestoes.

• Limitedsupport–Anumberofnon-governmentalorganizations(NGOs)areoperatingsomeschoolsandhealthfacilitiesinteagardens,butonthewholetherehavebeenfewinitiativesorprogrammestosupportteaworkers.

Source:Idris,I.(2018).ModernslaverywithintheteaindustryinBangladesh.K4DHelpdeskReport.Brighton,UK:InstituteofDevelopmentStudies.

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3. Humanitariancrisis-affectedgroups

TheFreedomFundhaspointedoutthat“Violentconflictgreatlyincreasesthevulnerabilityofcivilianpopulationstohumantraffickingandslavery.Refugeesandothermigrantsdisplacedbyconflictareparticularly vulnerable to this extreme form of exploitation”13. Research by the InternationalOrganisationforMigrationidentifiesthat“Migrantswhoreportedwar,conflictornaturaldisastersas the main reason for leaving their places of origin are predicted to be more vulnerable toexploitationandhumantraffickingonthejourneythanmigrantswholeftforotherreasons.”14

Slaverycanrunrampantwheretheruleof lawhascollapsed inwar-zonesor indeed infragileandconflict-affectedstateswherethereisalackofstatecapacitytolegislatefor,andthenimplement,effectivestepstoptacklethosesubordinatingothersintoslaveryconditions.

4. Unemployedorprecariouslyemployed

Globally, only one in twowomen aged 15 and over is in paid employment comparedwith aboutthree infourmen. Indeed,about700millionfewerwomenthanmenofworkingagewere inpaidemployment in 2016—1.27 billionwomen against 2 billionmen. 15 Andwomen aremuchmorelikely towork informally: for instance, in India, around 95 percent of women in paidwork, workinformally.16

5. Uneducated/poorlyskilled

TheUNHighLevelPanelonWomen’sEconomicEmpowermenthaspointedout that21countriesstillaveragefewerthanfiveyearsofgirls’schooling,andonly8low-incomecountrieshaveachievedgenderparityinsecondaryenrolment.Further,inmostcountrieslargersharesoffemalethanmaleyouthare“notinemployment,educationortraining”(NEET).In108countries,about30percentof

13“Modernslaveryandtraffickinginconflict:TheUN’sresponse”TheFreedomFund,201614“MigrantVulnerabilitytoHumanTraffickingandExploitation:EvidencefromtheCentralandEasternMediterraneanMigrationRoutes”

InternationalOrganisationforMigration,2017https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/our_work/DMM/MAD/Migrant-Vulnerability-to-

Human-Trafficking-Exploitation_ExecSummary.pdf15UNHighLevelPanelonWomen’sEconomicEmpowerment–FullReport

16Ibid

In India, researchbyAnti-Slavery International suggests thatover10millionpeopleareworking inbrickkilns.Debtbondageisendemicintheindustry,withworkersgivenanadvanceatthestartoftheworkseasonandasustenanceallowanceonaweekly/fortnightlybasis,butthenonlyreceivingthe final settlement of their wages at the end of the work season; which is approximately 8-10months long. Workers are hired as a family unitwithwages paid exclusively to themale headofhousehold, and women, despite having a large presence in the workplace, are not registered asemployees and have no access to their rights and entitlements under the labour law. Theworstformsofchildlabourarealsoendemic,withASI’sreportrevealingthat65-80%ofchildrenaged5-14werefoundtobeworking7-9hoursperdayandnotattendingschool.

Source: “SlaveryinIndia’sBrickKilns&thePaymentSystem:wayforwardinthefightforfairwages,decent work and eradication of slavery” https://www.antislavery.org/report-slavery-india-brick-kilns/

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youngwomen are counted asNEET, comparedwith 10 percent for youngmen. In SouthAsia, 54percentofyoungwomenareNEETagainstonly5percentofmen.17

6. Householdssufferingcrises(financial,health,abuse)

Peoplelivinginpovertyareveryvulnerabletoshockswhichcanplacetheminextremedistress,leadingthemtotakedesperatemeasureswhichthenopenthemtotheriskoftrafficking.Ineffect,thesecrisesareexacerbatingthepressuresthatalreadyexistonthepoorandmarginalisedandthereforeaddressingtheoveralldriversoftraffickingwillalsosupportthosewhoaretippedintothemostvulnerableandmarginalisedgroupsbyhouseholdcrises.

7. Familiesofvictims&formervictims

Itisunsurprisingthatthoseclosesttothepeoplesufferingmodernslaveryaresubjecttoverysimilarrisks and a compounding effect from the disempowerment wrought on the victims of modernslavery.Theneedtolookcloselyatthosearoundthevictimstoreducetheirrisksisclear,asistheneedtoensurethatthose“rescued”fromModernSlaveryaregivenpathwaystosecureeconomicwell-beingwhichwillovercometheriskfactorswhichhavepreviouslyledtotheirbeingvictims.

8. Vulnerabilityintersects

Finally,themostmarginalisedandathighestriskarethosewhoareinmorethanoneriskcategory,for instanceuneducatedwomenwhoareattemptingtomigrate. Thiscompoundingoffactorscanmaketacklingtherootcausesofmodernslaverymorechallenging:forinstance,theauthoritiesandlocal communities have less interest in supporting efforts in tackling the issues in migrantcommunities, or in ethnic minorities. (See for instance, the Bangladesh tea industry case studyabove).

17Ibid

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4. HowcanourWEEexperiencesupporttacklingModernSlavery?

Aswehaveseen,manyofthesystemicissueswhichunderlieModernSlaveryalsounderliewomen’sexclusionfromeconomicpowerandequity:socialnorms,marginalisation,informality,precarity,lackof visibility: disempowerment. We can therefore learn from the extensivework done to date onWomen’sEconomicEmpowermenttohelpcompaniestackleModernSlavery.

UsingtheUNHighLevelPane’sWomen’sEconomicEmpowermentFrameworktotacklemodernslavery

Many of the key drivers ofmodern slavery and those preventing the economic empowerment ofwomenare thesame.Bydrawingon learning fromwhatworks toeconomicallyempowerwomen

WhatdowemeanbyWomen’sEconomicEmpowerment(WEE)inWOW?

Women’seconomicempowermentistheprocesswherebyallwomenstrengthentheirvoiceandcapacitytomakeandactoneconomicchoices;expandtheiropportunitiestofulfiltheirpotential;andgainrecognitionfortheircontribution,paidandunpaid,inhouseholds,atwork,andwidersociety.

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workers,thisreportsuggeststhatbusinesscanusethisframework toprogress inthefightagainstmodernslavery:18

1. Strengthenagencythroughskillsdevelopmentandeducation

Initiativesshouldberootedinstrengtheningtheagencyofvulnerableandhigh-riskpopulations,through building awareness, knowledge, skills and confidence. Building women’s agency isparticularly effective when rights-awareness training is combined with building essential lifeskills on communication, negotiation and decision-making. This approachmeanswomen notonly have the knowledge and awareness of their rights at work, but also have the skills tochallenge harmful gender norms that restrict their economic empowerment. Peer learningapproachesanddeliveringtrainingaspartofpeersupportgroupscanalsostrengthenagency,byembedding skills within workplaces and communities and creating groups which can supporteachotherwithsharedknowledgeandskills.

Inwomen’s economic empowerment,Gap’s PACEprogram in garment supply chains seeks toenhance female workers’ self-efficacy and work efficacy through training modules coveringtopicssuchascommunicationandproblem-solving.Arandomizedcontroltrial fundedbyDFIDevaluating the impacts of the program found that participants demonstrated improvedconfidence and communication, and in turn sought greater technical skills upgrading.19 Aseparateevaluationalso foundworkerswere three timesmore likely thannon-participants toadvance into more senior roles. 20 The study also found business benefits of the program interms of productivity of workers. The Walmart Foundation’s Women in Factories Initiative

18WehavefollowedtheapproachtakenbytheUNHighLevelPanelonWomen’sEconomicEmpowermentintheirreport:“XXXX”19Adhvaryu,KalaandNyshadham(2017)“TheSkillstoPaytheBills:ReturnstoOntheJobSoftSkillsTraining.”

https://pedl.cepr.org/content/skills-pay-bills-returns-job-soft-skills-training20P.A.C.E.AdvancingWomen,ChangingLives,EvaluationbyICRW;WomeninFactoriesInitiativeEvaluation(forthcoming).

Tesco:Preventingtraffickingofwomen

Tesco, UNICEF and the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) partnership have been working to improveopportunitiesfortensofthousandsofchildreninIndianteacommunitiesandreducetheirvulnerabilitytotraffickingandabuse.TheAssamprogrammetargetedfamiliesin350communitieslinkedto100teaestates.Todatetheprogrammehas:

• Equippedmore than 35,000 adolescent girls with the knowledge and life skills thatwill help themsecureabetterfutureandreducetheirvulnerabilitytoviolence,abuseandexploitation

• Reached 30,000 community members to protect children from all types of violence, abuse andexploitation

• Influencednational,stateanddistrictgovernmentstoprotectchildrenandreviewpoliciesaffectingwomenandchildrenlivinginteacommunities.

Tescohave completed amapping exercise of all their producer groups in each country of origin andrankedeach teagardenon6parameters including responsible sourcing. The ratinghasbeenused toinform their supplier sourcing strategy to incentivise overall improvement, as well as identify keypartnerstodeveloppartnerships.

Source:TescoModernSlaveryStatement2017/18https://www.tescoplc.com/media/392433/modern_slavery_act.pdf

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delivered rights and skills training to over 40,000workers in Bangladesh, resulting in both animproved sense of empowerment and job satisfaction and a reduced tolerance for issues likegender-based violenceamongwomenworkers. Women reportedbeing able to communicatemoreeffectivelywiththeirlinemanagerstoraiseissuesandconcerns.21

Thisapproachcanbeused forcombattingmodernslavery,aswomenandgirlsneedboth theknowledge and awareness to steer clear of harmful situations but also the skills to challengeharmful gender norms in their homes and communities which increase the risk of modernslavery. Enhancing the voice and confidence ofwomen is also critical for preventingmodernslavery. Increased confidence to make decisions and influence their own circumstancesenhances women’s ability to avoid falling into modern slavery. This approach to preventingmodernslaverythroughskillsbuildingtoincreasewomen’sconfidenceanddecision-makinghasalreadybeen tested in some interventions, for instanceby Tesco,UNICEF and the Ethical TeaPartnershipintheteaindustryinAssam.

2. Strengthenvisibility,collectivevoiceandrepresentation

AstheETIhavepointedout,therighttofreedomofassociationandfreedomofexpressionarecentral to combattingmodern slavery.22 Similarly, strengthening the visibility, collective voiceandrepresentationofwomeniscriticaltowomen’seconomicempowerment.

However, while freedom of association is “at the core of the ILO's values: it is enshrined intheILO Constitution23”, it is all too frequently denied (see text box), both by deliberateunderminingbyemployersandgovernmentsandbyweakinstitutions

Attemptstostrengthenfreedomofassociationandthecollectivevoiceandrepresentationofwomenworkershaveprovenvitalforwomen’seconomicempowerment. Enablingwomentoidentifytherootcausesofinequityandexploitation,definetheirownagendaandtakeactionisatthecoreofempowerment.Thisapproachisparticularlyeffectivewhencombinedwithworktobuildskillsandagencyasdescribedpreviously,butgoesbeyondthisbyenablingwomentosupporteachotherandworkcollectivelytotackleharmfulnormsandworkingconditions.

21WomeninFactoriesInitiative,EndlineEvaluation.22https://ethicaltrade.org/blog/human-rights-defenders-civic-space-and-links-to-modern-slavery23http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/subjects-covered-by-international-labour-standards/freedom-of-association/lang--en/index.htm

ThefragilestateofFreedomofAssociationTheITUCGlobalRights Index2018ranks142countriesagainst97 internationallyrecognisedindicatorsto assess where workers’ rights are best protected in law and in practice. The report’s key findingsinclude:

• 65%ofcountriesexcludesomegroupsofworkersfromlabourlaw.• 87%ofcountrieshaveviolatedtherighttostrike.• 81%ofcountriesdenysomeorallworkerscollectivebargaining.• Outof142countriessurveyed,54denyorconstrainfreespeechandfreedomofassembly.• The number of countries in which workers are exposed to physical violence and threats

increasedby10%(from59to65)• Countrieswhereworkersarearrestedanddetainedincreasedfrom44in2017to59in2018.• Tradeunionistsweremurderedinninecountries

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For example, CARE developed Empowerment Knowledge and Transformative Action (EKATA)groupsinordertosupportpeer-to-peernetworksandsocialsolidarityamongwomenlivingandworkinginthesamearea,firstwithagriculturaldaylabourersandmorerecentlywithwomenworkinginthegarmentindustryinBangladesh.EKATAgroupsenablewomenworkerstoshare,reflect,andcriticallyanalysethebarrierstheyfacetoachievingrespectfortheirrightsintheirhomes, communities andworkplaces. In EKATA groups,womenworkers themselves identifythe most important shared challenges, create action plans, and take collective action topromote their rights; supported by tailored training on their rights and entitlements, and onimportantlifeskills,toensuretheyhavetheconfidenceandskillstheyneedtotakecollectiveaction. Crucially, EKATA groups have developed links to other civil society organisations andtradeunions, in order todevelop a shared agenda anddeliver joint advocacy andbargainingwith employers, service providers and the government EKATA groups in Bangladesh haveplayed a major role in empowering women, supporting reductions in the gender wage gapamongagriculturaldaylabourersandenablingover5,000womengarmentworkerstogettakeactiontoclaimtheirrightsintheircommunitiesandworkplaces.Achievementsincludegettinglocal government support to prevent sexual harassment when workers are commuting,organisingworkersinfactoriestomakesureallworkersreceivetheirbonuses,negotiatingwithahealthclinictoprovidespecialopeninghoursonworkers’dayoff,andsupportingnumerousworkers to raise theircomplaints tomanagers– includingmiscalculationofovertimepayandcomplaintsofsexualharassmentagainstmanagers.

Supporting women to take leadership positions as worker representatives is also crucial, asworkerrepresentativeswithinworkplacesandseniortradeunionofficialsarecommonlymaleand do not always understand or prioritise the agenda of womenworkers. The ETI’s SocialDialogue programme in the garment industry in Bangladesh has supported 40 women toparticipate in Worker Participation Committees in 9 factories,24 and CARE’s OIKKO (Unity)projecthasdeliveredtraining to318womenunionactivists todeveloptheirskills toorganisewomen workers and supported 26 union leaders on gender equality mainstreaming,communicationandpublicspeakingskills.

3. Addressadversesocialnormsintheworkplaceandbeyond

Womenparticipatinginglobalvaluechainsareheldbackbysocialnorms(definedbytheUNHLPas“rulesofconductacceptablebyadominantgrouporsociety”).Forexample,socialnormsthatsuggestthatwomenhaveresponsibilityfordomesticworkleadstodifferentrolesformenandwomenwithregardstocarework,which inturnfrequentlyconstrainswomen’sabilitytotakeon paidwork. Similarly, social norms underpin themarginalisation of particular groupswhichleadstotheirbeingatriskofmodernslavery.

Engagingmenandboystochallengeharmfulgendernormsisvitalfor improvingoutcomesforwomen. It also helps to prevent negative consequences for women, as improvements inwomen’s agency and decision-making skills can lead to a heightened risk of violence fromintimatepartnersandothers iftheyarenotengagedinthe intervention. Forexample,CARE’sworkingarmentfactoriesinBangladeshrevealedthatwomenwhoreceivedskillstrainingwiththesupportoftheirsupervisorsachievedbetteroutcomesattheendofthetraining,whereasifthesupervisorwasnotsupportivethentherewasanincreasedriskofconflictontheproductionline.25

Onecriticalinsightonsocialnormsfromthewomen’seconomicempowermentfieldisthereforerecognizingthatnormsgovernbehaviourbothatworkandathome–andthatitisimportantto

24JointETISocialDialogueProgramme,Evaluation.25WomeninFactoriesInitiative,EndlineEvaluation.

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engagewomenandemployers,butalso families,communities,andpolicymakers.TheUNHLPtoolkitoutlinesguidanceoncombattingadversenormsinmedia,education,andotherareas.26

Recognizingtheinfluenceofnormsinshapingtherolesandtypeofwork–aswellastherisksassociatedwiththatworkincludingincidentsofmodernslavery–isimportantforreducingriskywork. Norms around mobility may constrain women to working within the household ashomeworkers rather than in a formal factory. Analyses that consider the gender norms thatgovern additional risks faced by women are important considerations for modern slaveryinitiatives.Thesenormsarespecificandvarybylocalcontext.

4. Ensurelegalprotections

BusinesscanhaveanimportantvoiceininfluencingGovernmentlegislation.Business,however,is often perceived as being in favour of a “race to the bottom”, or at least or hoping thatgovernments will take a very “hands off” approach to business. However, progressivecompaniesrecogniseacrossawiderangeofissuestheneedtoinfluencegovernmentstowardsbetter protection of workers’ rights, both to avoid breaches of the rights of workers in theirsupply chains, but also to ensure a level playing field where no-one can gain a competitiveadvantage by breaching human rights. For instance, the ETI (“on behalf of internationalgarment, footwear, and travel goods brands and retailers”) participated in a letter to theCambodian government to implement commitments on labour law previously made by theGovernment,includinginareassuchastheminimumwageanddisputeadjudication27AlsotheB-Team28, a groupofbusiness leadershasbeenencouragingbusinesses to support anew ILOConventiononEndingViolenceandHarassmentintheWorkplace.

5. Changebusinesscultureandpractice.

The Global Business Coalition Against Trafficking (GBCAT) has set out a view of the seriousobstacles tohowbusiness can tacklemodern slavery (see text boxbelow). However, despitetheseobstacles,progressivebusinessesareclearontheimportantroletheycanplayintacklingtheproblem.

26HLPNormstoolkithttp://www2.unwomen.org/-/media/hlp%20wee/attachments/reports-toolkits/hlp-wee-toolkit-driver-1-

en.pdf?la=en&vs=550727https://www.ethicaltrade.org/resources/letter-to-cambodian-government-labour-law-reform28Agroupofbusinessleadersdescribingthemselvesas:“anot-for-profitinitiativeformedbyaglobalgroupofbusinessleaderstocatalyseabetterway

ofdoingbusiness,forthewellbeingofpeopleandtheplanet”http://www.bteam.org/about/

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BusinessChallengesinTacklingModernSlaveryFrom:GlobalBusinessCoalitionAgainstTrafficking

LACKOFTRANSPARENCY

• LowvisibilityintoTier2+recruitmentpractices

• Traffickingoftenfoundintheinformaleconomy

LACKOFDISCLOSURE

• Suppliersnotforthcomingordon’tknowwhattoreporton

• Auditsareinaccurate

LACKOFCAPACITY

• Lackofexpertiseorresourcesfromsupplierstoaddressissue

• Businesseslackaccesstoresourcestohelpaddresstheissue

LACKOFINCENTIVES

• Limitedlegislativepressureoncompaniesandtheirsuppliers

• Fewcommercialincentivesforsupplierstoimprove

• Suppliersandbrandsmaynotunderstandthebusinesscase

BUSINESSMODELS

• Brandprocurementpractices

• Seasonalitydrivesneedforshort-termlaborgenerallyfromabroad

• Lackofrequirementfordirectcontracting

SYSTEMICCHALLENGES

• ModernSlaveryisoftenpresentincountriesthatmaintainaweakruleoflaw

• Corruptionisanenablerofallformsofmodernslavery

• Lackofunionstohelpprovideprotection

From “About Modern Slavery” by the Global Business Coalition Against Human Trafficking (with minor amendments) https://www.gbcat.org/modern-slavery/

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BSR HERrespect – Addressing Gender-Based Violence in the Garment Industry

Women workers in global supply chains are particularly vulnerable to incidents of violence and harassment: BSR’s research suggests that female garment workers in Bangladesh are more likely than the national average to experience all forms of intimate violence at home and at work – for example 42.8 percent of female garment workers experience sexual violence, versus the national average of 12.2 percent. Unequal power relations underpin and perpetuate violence and affect women in their roles at work and at home.

HERrespect is a 12-month workplace program supported by DFID’s What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls Programme that aims to build more gender equitable workplaces in global supply chains. BSR piloted HERrespect in Bangladesh and India through three components:

• Capacity building: participatory training for female workers, male workers, and management to reflect on adverse social norms and build soft skills to address violence in workplace and intimate relationships, as well as joint sessions to improve dialogue

• Awareness raising: factory-wide campaigns on gender equality, respect, communication, and teamwork, and promotion of local women’s and support organizations

• Improvement of systems: reviewing workplace policies with best practice and local law, improving support and grievance systems, and guidance on communication policies to workers

HERrespect is undergoing an external evaluation which will be completed in early 2019. Midline findings indicate a decrease in the acceptance and normalization of violence among participants, as well as an increase in gender equal attitudes and sense of personal responsibility to stop violence against women.

Inturn,women’seconomicempowermentinitiativeshaveshownthatwhileindividualcapacityis critical, transformative outcomes for women depend upon institutional changes by theiremployers.Morefavourableconditionsforwomen,forexamplethroughstrengthenedaccesstohealthproducts and services in a factoryor farm, improvedaccess to sick leave, annual leaveandmaternity entitlements; or access to training opportunities through cooperatives, lead tomorelong-lastingandmeaningfulchangesforwomen.

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6. Participateinmulti-stakeholdersolutions

Women’seconomicempowerment initiativeshavebeenmoreeffectiveand lastingwhen theyengage multiple stakeholders including business, NGOs, trade unions, and government.Engagementacrosssectorsbringsadditionalvisibilityandsupportfortheseinitiativesandallowseach actor to leverage their respective strengths and contributions. ETI’s multistakeholderapproach has been effective in gaining support from business to conduct gender analyses ofinitiatives.Thesemultistakeholderinitiativesrepresentpromisingspacestoidentifylessonsandcollaboratetoscaleupgoodpractice.

Business,civilsociety,andgovernmenthavearoletoplayincombattingriskfactorsofmodernslavery.Systemicfactorsthatallowslaverytopersistsuchaslackofsocialprotectionwhichmaypush vulnerable men and women to situations of exploitative or forced work requireinterventionsfromdifferentsectors.

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5. Practicesandpolicies

From our analysis, it is clear that business can and must play a proactive role and implementprogressivepracticesandpoliciesinkeyareas,including:

1. Useagenderanalysisacrossthevaluechain tobetterunderstandrisksby identifyinganddrawingattentiontoplacesintheirsupplychainwherethechancesofriskyworkarehigher.

2. Investincapacitybuildingthroughoutthevaluechaintoensureregularandqualityworkforwomenandmen.This involvesaddressingwomen’sagencyandvoice,butalsosupervisor,manager, and cooperative skills to uphold strong conditions forwomenandmenworkersandfarmersincludingaddressingsocialnorms.

3. Ensure regular employment and a move away from casual, outsourced, and temporaryemploymentwhichdisproportionatelyimpactswomen.

4. Ensurefreedomofassociationandcollectivebargainingthroughestablishingdialoguewithunionsdirectlyattheglobalandregionallevels,andworkingwithsupplierstobuildlinkstolocalunions.Buyersshouldalsotakeaproactiveroleininfluencingsupplierswhenworkerandunions’rightsareviolated,particularlytotackleunionbustingandblacklisting.

5. Advocateforpolicychangethatensuresawell-regulatedjobmarketandadequatelevelsofsocialsupport.Reducingthevulnerabilitieswomenfaceandreducingdemandforriskyandexploitiveworkreducestherisktheywillfaceforcedlabor.

6. Gatherandusebetterdataontheroleswomenplayandsupplychainsaswellasthelaborconditions they face.Understanding the realitieswomen faceandhow those changeovertime brings visibility to the status of women and risks they face with regards tomodernslavery.

7. Shareinformationonyoursupplychain,duediligence,targetsandprogress.

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6. ConclusionAs businesses increasingly debate how best to tackle modern slavery in their supply chains, theframeworkofwomen’seconomicempowermentprovidesawaytouseexistingexperienceofwhatworks, toaddresstherisks facedbythewomenwhorepresentamajorityof thevictimsof forcedlabour.

Wehaveourselvesadoptedthisframeworkandidentifiedthekeyactionswhichwethinkbusinessneeds toaddress tobebetterable to identifynecessaryactionsacross theirentire value chain toreducetheriskofmodernslaveryandatthesametimecreatepositiveimpactforwomen.

WOWwillbesupportingthisagendaoverthenextfewyearsbyincreasingvisibilityaroundwomenworkers inglobalvaluechains, improvingoutcomesforwomenin informalwork,addressingsocialnormsandimprovingwomen’svoice.Wethereforeareinvitingcompaniestacklingmodernslaveryandimprovingwomen’seconomicempowermenttodiscussandimproveoursuggestions.Wehopethatyouwillcontactusandseehowwecanbestworktogether.

TocontacttheWOWprogrammetounderstandmoreaboutourworkandhowwecansupportbusinessestomakeadifference,emailGerryBoyleoftheWOWteamat:boyle@careinternational.org

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7. UsefulresourcesModernSlavery

UKModernSlaveryActhttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/30/contents/enacted

The2017GlobalEstimateofModernSlaveryhttp://www.alliance87.org/2017ge/modernslavery#!section=0

UNGuidingPrinciplesonBusinessandHumanRightshttps://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf

GlobalBusinessCoalitionAgainstTraffickinghttps://www.gbcat.org/

Bishop,K.,Kangas,A.andHarrison,A. (2017)GenderAnalysisofModernSlavery,VAWGHelpdeskResearchReportNo.141.LondonUK:VAWGHelpdesk.

FreedomFundhttps://freedomfund.org/

ILOhttps://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/lang--en/index.htm

BusinessandHumanRightsResourceCentre:

https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/issues/labour/forced-labour-modern-slavery

KnowtheChain:https://knowthechain.org/

GlobalBusinessofForcedLabourproject:http://globalbusinessofforcedlabour.ac.uk/

Women’sEconomicEmpowerment

WOWGuidetogendermappingofvaluechains(forthcoming)

UNHighLevelPanelonWomen’sEconomicEmpowermenthttp://hlp-wee.unwomen.org/en

DFID Strategic Vision for Gender Equality https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfid-strategic-vision-for-gender-equality-her-potential-our-future

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Acknowledgements

The WOW Programme would like to thank the following people who contributed to thedevelopmentofthisdocument:ChristineSvarer,ElissaGoldenberg,JoeSutcliffe,FarazHassan,SallyBaden,ProfessorStephanieBarrientos.

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