On 14th November 2023, Ms. Jacqueline Mugo, Executive Director & CEO, Federation of Kenya Employers attended the workshop on Strengthening Parliamentary Action to address Gender- Based violence & Modern Slavery in Supply Chain. This workshop was held at Emara Ole Sereni Park View Hotel, Nairobi between 14th -16th November 2023.
The workshop brough together Parliamentarians from Africa, Americas, Caribbean, Europe, United Kingdom and Asia Pacific, with an objective of enabling commonwealth parliaments to be more active and effective in addressing violence against women’s and girls’ (VAWG) and modern slavery, leading to the advocating for robust legislation, scrutiny and other measures that reduce Gender-Based Violence and Modern Slavery in supply chains.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Mugo affirmed employer’s committed in championing initiatives that eradicate forced labour in all its forms.
“Employers overwhelmingly supported the adoption of two important ILO instruments in 2014, the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 and the Forced Labour Recommendation (Supplementary Measures), No. 203” she said.
She further noted that the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), where FKE is a member, is an active participant in the Global Alliance against Forced Labour, launched by the ILO in 2005. It has joined forces with the ILO’s Special Action Programme to combat Forced Labour (SAP-FL) to sensitize employers to the risks of forced labour and to promote effective mitigation measures. Ms. Mugo reiterated that addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and modern slavery in supply chains requires a multi-stakeholder approach involving employers, governments, businesses, NGOs, and other relevant actors.
Some of the interventions included:
1. Enforcing existing laws and regulations related to labor rights, human rights, and gender equality.
2. Strengthening Legal Frameworks to specifically address GBV and modern slavery, ensuring adequate penalties for non-compliance.
3. Implementing robust due diligence processes to identify and address human rights risks within the supply chain.
4. Implementing traceability systems to track the origin and conditions of production for products throughout the supply chain.
5. Implementing gender-inclusive policies that promote equal opportunities, fair wages, and safe working conditions for all employees.
6. Working towards the development and adoption of global standards and best practices for ethical and sustainable supply chains.
7. Encouraging international collaboration to address issues that span multiple countries and regions among others. This three-day workshop will consider challenges and objectives from multiple perspectives including legislatively, culturally, socially, legally and governmentally. It also provide a platform for participants to share their unique experiences and learn from each other.