Fighting modern slavery
Learn about Modern Slavery, Griffith’s commitment to addressing it, and how to identify the warning signs, and access useful resources and information on where to get help.
According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index 2023, an estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any given day in 2021. Of these people, approximately 28 million were in forced labour, and 22 million were in forced marriages. (Source)
What is modern slavery?
According to the Australian Government, situations of modern slavery can occur when one person uses their power over another to control, or use them for their own benefit. It takes away someone’s freedom to make choices for themselves.
Modern slavery can take many forms, and it may not always be obvious to those involved. Practices of modern slavery include, but are not limited to:
- Human Trafficking: Defined by the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol as involving recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion with the intent of exploiting that person for sexual exploitation, forced labour, or slavery, among other forms.
- Slavery: Defined in the 1926 Slavery Convention as the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised. In a later treaty, states agreed that there are also certain “slavery-like practices”: debt bondage, forced or servile marriage, sale or exploitation of children (including in armed conflict), and descent-based slavery.
- Slavery-like Practices:
- Forced Labour: All work or service that is conducted under menace of penalty and for which the person has not offered themselves voluntarily.
- Forced Marriage: Any situation where persons, regardless of age, have been forced to marry without their consent.
- Servitude: Is a form of modern slavery that involves the exploitation of a person, where they are forced to provide services under coercion, threats, or deception, and are unable to change their status or leave the situation. It is considered a particularly serious form of denial of freedom and is broader than slavery itself.
- Debt Bondage: Status or condition where one person has pledged their labour or services (or that of someone under their control), in circumstances where the fair value of that labour or service is not reasonably applied to reducing the debt or length of debt, or the length and nature of the service is not limited or defined.
- Deceptive Recruiting for labour or services (scammers).
General Warning Signs
Someone in modern slavery may:
- face violence or threats against themselves or their loved ones
- be disciplined through punishment (either physically or through ‘fines’)
- be under someone’s control (physically or psychologically)
- have their movements controlled
- be under near-constant or constant surveillance by another person
- be in a situation of dependence
- let other people speak for them when spoken to directly
- be forced to work and unable to negotiate their working conditions.
They may:
- not have access to or control over their wages
- receive little or no pay
- believe they must keep working for someone to pay back a particular debt
- have financial pressures within the family
- show signs of economic abuse, dowry abuse or someone else getting a financial benefit from the arrangement.
They may:
- live in substandard accommodation arranged by an employer or agent
- not have a key to their own house
- have limited or poor-quality food
- have large costs charged for accommodation or living expenses
- be transported between accommodation and work by organisers
- not know their home or work address
- believe they must work even if they don’t want to
- work extremely long hours with no time off
- believe they can’t leave their workplace or accommodation.
They may:
- show fear, anxiety, distress or nervousness
- answer as though they have been coached when you ask questions
- distrust authorities
- have low social awareness
- have low self-esteem and untidy appearance
- have untreated physical injuries or illnesses
- have no access to medical care.
They may:
- not be able to communicate freely
- have limited or no contact with their families or other people
- not speak English or know the local area
- have limited or no social interaction.
They may:
- be lied to about the details of their job. Those lies could include the work they will do, the location and the employer
- be lied to about their migration status
- be told they will be arrested if they complain to police
- believe their visa will be cancelled if they report bad treatment by their employer.
They may:
- have false identity or travel documents
- be afraid of revealing their immigration status
- have had their passport or other identity documents taken away and held by someone else
- have had their travel costs paid for by someone who they must pay back by working for them.
Griffith student support services
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these warning signs, know that Griffith University has the following support services that may be able to help:
Speak up and get support
If you believe you or someone you know is impacted by modern slavery, we encourage you to take appropriate action. You can report a concern to the University here, formally, informally or anonymously.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) support people experiencing or at risk of trafficking, forced labour, or forced marriage. You can make an anonymous report online or by calling 131 237. If you’re not comfortable contacting the AFP, the Australian Red Cross can provide confidential advice.
Know and defend your rights
At Griffith, we believe in recognising every person’s rights, no matter their age, status or background. We encourage all Griffith students to know and understand their rights, especially those involving their employment, accommodation and personal lives.
If you become a victim to a scammer, you should immediately stop all communication. If the scam relates to your bank account, contact your financial institution, and report the matter to the Police.
The following resources are provided to help you better understand modern slavery, know what to do if you or someone you know is being exploited and where to get support.
This resource provides information for students that will help protect you from being a victim of cybercrime.
Use this resource, created by Griffith University specifically for students, to help you avoid falling for recruitment scams if you’re looking for employment while studying at Griffith.
The Fair Work Ombudsman helps everyone in Australia follow the laws that make all workplaces equal and fair. You can even report workplace issues anonymously.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has resources for students coming to Australia to live, study or holiday, about your residency and the tax you pay.
If you or someone you know needs help, we encourage you to reach out to the following contacts who provide 24/7 support services.
This resource hub from the Australian Red Cross can help you understand your work rights and avoid work exploitation for yourself or someone you know.
If you’re an international student, this organisation can help you learn more about your workplace rights in Australia and where to find support.
Know your marriage rights in Australia and find guidance for a variety of legal and migration matters.
Forced marriage
Forced marriage is a form of modern slavery that can have devastating effects for victims and their families. See the resources below to learn more about forced marriages and what you can do if you or someone you know is experiencing this.
Work with individuals to establish immediate safety, supporting holistic wellbeing and making connections to financial, legal and health providers, building pathways to independence through employment and education and working alongside families to re-establish connection and create safer home environments.
My Blue Sky provides several resources developed with Anti-Slavery Australia’s 'Speak Now' project, following extensive consultations with frontline workers, young people and community stakeholders across Australia.
Red Cross can help people who are in a forced marriage or are worried about being forced into marriage.
Please note that the materials developed by ACRATH listed on this page have been specifically designed for an adult workplace context. ACRATH strongly recommends that these materials not be accessed by school-aged students.
ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans)
Produced by the Australian Government in partnership with the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery, this community pack provides information and resources to community agencies and organisations, the media, and individuals on the practice of forced marriage.