Fair Labor in the
Global Supply
Chain and the
Connection to
ASU

Forced labor is work
that is involuntary and
subject to penalty

VS
Fair labor is voluntary,
requires fair
compensation, and is
free from penalty

United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were
adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty,
protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity
(Sustainable Development Goals | United Nations Development Programme, 2017).

Problem Identification
Global Labor Standards and Purchasing Practices at ASU

Global Landscape
Social

25 million people were victims of
forced labor in 2016 (International
Labor Organization)

Environmental
Poor global standards perpetuate the
existence of forced labor and
environmental damage

Economic

Workers not paid a living wage
experience a lack of economic
opportunity

Complex Causes
Global Poverty,
Inequality, and
Discrimination

Global

Poor
Regulation and
Enforcement

Operation
Norms and
Market
Competition

Large Number
of Suppliers at
ASU

Local

Negative
Effects and
Negatively
Affected
Stakeholders

Global Victims of Forced Labor

ILO, 2012

Annual Profits of Forced Labor per Region
(US $ Billion)

Benefits and
Benefiting
Stakeholders

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Big Picture Recap

Forced labor is a
complex global4
issue.

The root drivers of
forced labor are
multidimensional.

There are
stakeholders that
are negatively
affected, but also
those that benefit
from forced labor.

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ASU
Connectedness
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Areas of Opportunity for ASU
Purchasing:
Before making a
purchase, think
about how
necessary it is
and refer to the
approved vendors
list for suppliers
already verified
by the FLA.

Awareness and
Collaboration:
Continue to
educate yourself
and begin to
educate your
peers on fair labor
within the supply
chain.

Staff:
Encourage the
university to
create a dedicated
team focused on
ethical and
sustainable
purchasing in
ASU’s supply chain.

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Questions?
Additional resources:
What is Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor
Fair Labor in Action
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