UNITED NATIONS THIRD COMMITTEE: INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF SLAVERY
STATEMENT BY YUNEI KIM, FIRST SECRETARY, AUSTRALIAN MISSION TO THE UN
17 October 2024
Thank you Chair.
Australia strongly supports the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and welcomes his report.
Australia recognises the vital role that workers’ organisations and trade unions play in preventing modern slavery, particularly forced and exploitative forms of labour.
Trade unions are important actors for engaging on the Decent Work agenda (SDG8). With widening inequality and shrinking space for social dialogue, there is growing need to support union capacity to engage on structural reforms to labour regulation – including in our region, the Indo-Pacific.
In addition to all fundamental ILO forced labour Conventions, including the Forced Labour Protocol, Australia has ratified and implemented ILO Conventions 87 and 98, recognising the right to organise and the right to collective bargaining. Australia has promoted these Conventions in our region, including funding a project to promote implementation of ILO standards in Pacific Island Countries.
Australia recognises the importance of workers exercising their trade union rights without fear of discrimination or punishment. Australia has longstanding legislation which criminalises employers retaliating against workers for their membership in a trade union.
Trade unions also play a critical role in the development and application of legislation to protect workers and counter modern slavery. In Australia, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is a member of the national Modern Slavery Expert Advisory Group, which meets regularly to provide expert advice to Government on the operation of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act.
Additionally, Australia’s National Workplace Relations Consultative Council allows the Government, employers and employees to consult together on workplace relations and work health and safety issues of national concern, which may include issues relating to forced labour.
The ACTU is also a member of Australia’s national roundtable on human trafficking and slavery, alongside several other key civil society actors. This key consultative mechanism between the Government and NGOs on modern slavery in Australia helps to shape the Government’s priorities on the issue.
Special Rapporteur, can you share with us an example of how a state might formalise the informal economy to enhance labour protections?
We look forward to your upcoming visit to Australia in November.
Thank you.