New bill seeks to require large employers to publish their modern slavery risks, incidents

The bill requiring large New Zealand firms to disclose modern slavery risks has passed its first reading.

The Modern Slavery Bill requires large employers to disclose modern slavery risks and incidents in their operations and supply chains, as well as what actions they are taking to combat modern slavery.

Under the proposal, companies and individuals that refuse to report or publish false or misleading statements may be fined up to $200,000.

It will also include civil penalties of up to $600,000, public naming, and potential liability for directors and senior managers.

"This legislation would bring us in line with other like-minded countries with similar values," said National MP for Maungakiekie Greg Fleming, a co-sponsor of the bill, in a statement.

"This is something that New Zealanders want, and modern slavery victims need."

Modern slavery in New Zealand

Modern slavery is an umbrella term that covers forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, slavery, as well as slavery-like practices, according to international human rights group Walk Free.

Its research showed that New Zealand is among the countries with the lowest prevalence of modern slavery in the Asia-Pacific region. However, it pointed out that there are an estimated 8,000 individuals living in modern slavery in New Zealand.

"This equates to a prevalence of 1.6 people in modern slavery for every thousand people in the...

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