Reducing Risks to People in Australian Equity Portfolios
Modern slavery takes place covertly, supported by crime and corruption. The International Labour Organization (ILO), the Walk Free Foundation and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any given day in 2021. This is an increase of 10 million people since 2016, driven by conflicts, COVID-19, and climate change. Most of the victims (71%) were women and girls. One in every 130 females globally is living in modern slavery. In 2021, G20 countries imported US$468 billion worth of goods at-risk of modern slavery, US$17b of which is attributed to Australia.
Modern Slavery: Is Your Portfolio at Risk?
At AllianceBernstein, we are committed to working to reduce modern slavery risks to people associated with the operations and supply chains of Australian listed companies. To this end, we have created a range of materials to support our clients and consultants in reducing these risks in their portfolios, and in helping to combat modern slavery.
Introduction To Modern Slavery
Not only is reducing modern slavery the right thing to do, researching the risks and proactively engaging with corporates to reduce them can also lead to better investment outcomes. This is because talking directly to global supply-chain managers provides an important enhancement to our fundamental research capability.
Modern slavery is a pervasive social evil. Just how pervasive can be seen from the normal, day-to-day routine of an Australian consumer who, merely by doing the weekly shopping, risks becoming exposed in many and surprising ways to the results of forced labour.
Our modern slavery research methodology maps how companies and industry sectors are exposed to modern slavery risk—from supermarkets and global manufacturing at the high end of the risk spectrum, to real estate investment trusts and insurers at the low end.
When you do your weekly shopping, does it ever occur to you that you might be benefiting from a crime, or that the food you eat and the consumer goods you enjoy have come to you at the cost of another person’s misery? Unfortunately, it’s quite possible.
AB is committed to being a responsible firm—in how we act and how we invest on behalf of our clients. We’re working to ensure that the path of responsibility leads upward.