TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Business leaders from Asia Pacific region convened on August 24 at the Bali Process Government and Business Forum (BPGBF) in Perth, Australia, and made a commitment to end modern slavery.
Eddy Suriaatmadja, co-chair of the BPGBF and chairman of Emtek Group, said the purpose of the meeting was for business and government to join forces together to fight the problem.
“Two thirds of the estimated 46 million people trapped in slavery are in the Indo Pacific region. The hideous practices of modern slavery are on Australia’s door step as well,” said Andrew Forrest, the Australia’s co-chair of BPGBF and founder of the Walk Free Foundation.
According to Forrest one of the biggest challenge has been for business leaders to understand that ending modern slavery in their supply chain is not threatening and it is not going to damage the company’s reputation.
“Businesses have been partly the source of this problem but we have the capacity to reduce and hopefully end modern slavery,” Eddy added.
On the second day of the meeting, they made a commitment to support implementation of common laws through the Indo Pacific Modern Slavery Acts. It is to be implemented in the 45 member states of the Bali Process, which would include transparent and mandatory reporting from companies to state their efforts in eradicating modern slavery.
As an incentive for companies that adheres to these laws, there will be anti-slavery certificate affirming their responsible business practices. Forrest believes that businesses must be part of the solution. “We cannot live in a world where people are treated worse than farm animals,” he said.
AMANDA SIDDHARTA
