Government consulting on forced labour, people trafficking and slavery
Tue 06 Oct 2020
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment is seeking feedback on a draft Plan of Action against forced labour, people trafficking and slavery.
The draft plan, Combatting Modern Forms of Slavery: Draft Plan of Action against Forced Labour, People Trafficking and Slavery 2020-25, sets out a high level framework for the actions that agencies will undertake between 2020 - 2025.
The deadline to give feedback on the draft plan is 16 October 2020.
In 2019, New Zealand ratified the International Labour Organization’s Forced Labour Protocol and committed to take serious and effective action to address forced labour. This includes developing a plan of action against forced labour. The existing Plan of Action to Prevent People Trafficking was published in 2009 and is being updated to reflect the changes that have occurred since that time. The new plan addresses forced labour, people trafficking and slavery as these are closely linked.
More information is available from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE). There are no specific consultation questions. MBIE has stated "We welcome your feedback on any aspect of the draft Plan of Action that you may wish to comment on."
You can send your written feedback:
- by emailing your submission as a Microsoft Word document to 2020PlanofAction@mbie.govt.nz
- by mailing your submission to: International Labour Policy, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
You can email 2020PlanofAction@mbie.govt.nz with questions.
For background information see the Immigration NZ website on people trafficking.
Update: The National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges has shared their submission on the draft plan calling for it to be 'entirely reworked.'
Related news
Update: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime published Female Victims of Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation as Defendants: A Case Law Analysis in December 2020.
The NZ Law Foundation and the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation have awarded funding to Dr Christina Stringer and Professor Snejina Michailova at the Universtiy of Auckland to examine whether New Zealand should introduce a Modern Slavery Act.
UN Women has recently published the following reports: Addressing emerging human trafficking trends and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), Bridging the gap: Sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) (2020), and Sexual harassment in the informal economy: Farmworkers and domestic workers (2020).
Related media
COVID-19 impact exposes millions to the risk of trafficking, UN agency says, UN News, 02.02.2021
COVID-19 Seen Worsening Overall Trend in Human Trafficking, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, 02.02.2021
Image: energepic.com from Pexels