Thai Union’s global director of corporate affairs and sustainability has shared insights into tackling modern slavery in companies'' supply chains.
Addressing a conference in Sydney on 'Implementing Australia’s Modern Slavery Act – Knowing Your Supply Chain', Dr Darian McBain said that businesses must work together with governments, civil society and other companies because no one company can solve the problem of modern slavery alone.
“While companies can pursue and implement a robust sustainability policy, it’s only by taking a collaborative approach and working with multiple stakeholders – plus some fierce determination – that genuine change can truly be made,” Dr McBain told the conference, which was hosted by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
The conference was attended by Australian government officials, UK independent anti-slavery commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, and other global companies including Apple, IKEA, Nestle, Hilton and Adidas. The first conference of its kind in Australia, it was designed to help Australian businesses address the risks of modern slavery in their own supply chains and operations, and to comply with the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018.
Dr McBain said Thai Union introduced its sustainability strategy, SeaChange, which contributes to broader societal change by helping the world meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“Positioning sustainability at the heart of the business was not only the right thing to do both ethically and morally, but also the right thing to do for the future of the Thai Union business,” Dr McBain concluded.
