In 2025, a pioneering tech company used AI “supply‑chain X‑ray” mapping to trace cobalt embedded in consumer electronics all the way to a third‑tier supplier in the Democratic Republic of Congo where child labour was uncovered. Far from being confined to distant sweatshops, modern slavery is all too often woven into the everyday goods and services we rely on. Shockingly, 50 million people are estimated to be living in modern slavery, caught in forced labour or forced marriage. Yet the story needn’t end there. Businesses are increasingly stepping up, finding themselves on the front line of the fight and sometimes doing more than governments to shine a light into this darkest of places.

The Scale and Business Connections

Modern slavery isn’t merely a moral outrage; it poses a clear business risk. Brands face reputational damage, investor scrutiny, weaker ESG ratings and eroding consumer trust if tainted goods surface in their portfolio. It also affects the bottom line: modern slavery can trigger costly investigations or supply chain disruptions.

Increasingly complex, multi-tiered supply chains obscure the problem. A garment may look pristine in store while the cotton or labour that produced it remains hidden three layers down. Enter the concept of a “supply-chain X-ray”, technologies such as AI and blockchain now enable unprecedented transparency and traceability, from raw materials to retail.

In 2025, several high-profile cases have put a spotlight on these challenges. The UK’s state energy provider Great British Energy has pledged to reject solar panels linked to forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region, following political pressure and ethical concern. Meanwhile, in the fashion world, new scrutiny from the Italian Competition Authority and evolving EU laws on forced-labour products are forcing brands to rethink supply chain accountability.

These developments underscore how modern slavery is no longer someone else’s problem, but a business imperative demanding immediate, informed action.

Weak Enforcement and Government Gaps

Despite having some of the most advanced anti‑slavery laws on the books, enforcement often falls short where it’s needed most. The UK’s Modern Slavery Act, once hailed as groundbreaking, is now criticised for weak enforcement, especially as prosecution rates remain shockingly low and disclosures from businesses are often superficial and inconsistent. The House of Lords highlighted that, in many cases, firms can file minimal statements that reveal little else and entirely undermine transparency.

The US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) offers stronger enforcement tools. U.S. Customs has ramped up seizures of goods, particularly in automotive and electronics, that are suspected of involving forced labour from Xinjiang, denying entry to the majority of inspected shipments.

This patchwork approach leaves many companies operating in a “governance vacuum”, particularly in jurisdictions where oversight is sparse or political will weak. In such environments, some multinationals are stepping into the breach and self-regulating more vigorously than local governments, often driven by fear of trade sanctions or reputational fallout.

Human Impact and Migrant Vulnerability

Picture this: hundreds of seasonal farm‑workers from Morocco and sub‑Saharan Africa living in makeshift shacks without running water or electricity while picking over 60 % of the UK’s winter strawberries in southern Spain. Their living and working conditions are appalling, a stark reminder that modern slavery can flourish even in Europe’s most affluent regions. These migrant workers often arrive burdened with high recruitment fees or relocation loans, leaving them trapped in debt and forced to endure exploitation. In the UK, nearly three‑quarters of seasonal workers accrue debts averaging over £1,200 simply to secure the job, with no guarantee of earning enough to repay it.

Business can unwittingly become complicit, especially when recruitment agencies or subcontractors push fees and bind passports around vulnerable workers. Yet there are positive shifts: the Employer Pays Principle is gaining traction, shifting recruitment costs onto employers, not workers. Innovative tools such as zero-fee hiring models, multilingual grievance platforms and worker-voice apps are helping to break the silence of the vulnerable, offering real, practical avenues for accountability.

Where Business is Falling Short

Despite mounting awareness, many businesses still fall short when it comes to corporate due diligence and transparency. In 2025, research by NGOs revealed that over 60% of modern‑slavery statements remain “data‑light” and lacking meaningful action, often serving as little more than box‑ticking exercises rather than pathways to accountability.

The contrast with more proactive approaches is stark. Some forward‑thinking companies are trialing continuous monitoring tools, including satellite imagery combined with AI, to detect forced agricultural labour in remote locations, such as in brick kilns or deforestation areas, where exploitation might otherwise go unseen. Others are adopting surprise third-party visits, bypassing scheduled audits that can be easily staged, to ensure real working conditions are scrutinised.

Yet these innovations still remain the exception. Too often, businesses rely on annual declarations that never evolve into genuine intervention, thus failing victims and risking reputational and operational blowback in an increasingly vigilant marketplace.

The New Battleground: Digital Exploitation

Human traffickers and cyber‑criminal networks are embracing cutting‑edge digital tools to bolster their operations. Sophisticated scams now deploy deepfake job advertisements, AI‑generated fake identities and encrypted recruitment channels to dupe victims into forced online work. In Cambodia and parts of Southeast Asia, criminal “scam centres” imprison thousands, lured by these deceptive ads, and force them into cryptocurrency fraud or romance scams run from within compounds. These operations exploit deepfakes and systemic tech to ensnare both victims and scam targets at scale.

On the defence, some financial institutions and tech firms are deploying AI‑powered risk‑flag systems that scan for suspicious job posts or crypto transactions tied to trafficking. One 2025 fintech pilot programme even enabled companies to work with law enforcement to freeze assets linked to traffickers, preventing the flow of illicit funds.

As traffickers harness technology to expand their reach, the financial sector’s response is evolving from passive bystander to active frontline defender in the digital arena.

The Way Forward:  Business as the Change Agent

Innovative companies are stepping into the breach, arming themselves with forward-looking tools that transform ethics into action. Blockchain-backed product passports are already gaining traction in sectors from fashion to medical devices, enabling irrefutable traceability of a product’s journey, adding transparency where supply chains are often murky . Meanwhile, worker-driven social responsibility models, such as voice-enabled grievance platforms, give vulnerable workers a direct and protected channel to report abuse.

Cross-sector partnerships are multiplying; it’s no longer just agriculture or retail acting alone. Tech firms, farmers and fashion houses are uniting to share data and tackle risks collaboratively. Some companies are even beginning to link executive remuneration to verified ESG outcomes, ensuring human rights become an integral part of leadership incentives.

Investor and consumer pressure is also mounting, with evidence showing that ESG funds have billions exposed to forced-labour-linked industries like solar and electric vehicles, divestment is becoming a weapon of consequence .

In the end, it’s clear that collaboration beats compliance. Companies, NGOs and governments that pool intelligence and resources stand a far better chance of dismantling modern slavery than those acting alone.

In the fight against modern slavery, inaction is no longer an option. Leadership means more than compliance, it demands courage, innovation and collaboration. Those businesses willing to confront this dark place head-on may find they not only transform their own supply chains but inspire governments to follow.

And what about you…?   

  • How confident are you that your organisation’s supply chain is free from forced labour, and what evidence supports that confidence?
  • What technologies or partnerships could you adopt to improve transparency and detect hidden exploitation in your operations?