Australians are importing over $US4.5 billion worth of clothing and accessories at risk of being produced through modern slavery according to data from the Global Slavery Index.
The countries with the biggest risk of modern slavery affecting imported fashion products are China, India, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
In a breakdown given in the report, the value of at-risk imported products from China totalled $US4 billion while products from India and Vietnam totalled approximately $US170 million each.
The report criticised a number of G20 countries, including Australia, for not taking action to stop the sourcing of goods at risk of being produced by forced labour.
However, the report did note that the Australian government had announced that it will introduce supply chain transparency laws in the second half of 2018.
In a statement, the group suggested that government policy is crucial to mitigating the risks of modern slavery while also calling on businesses and consumers to be aware of the risks and take responsibility.
“By unravelling the trade flows and focusing on products at risk of modern slavery that are imported by the top economies, it becomes clear that even the wealthiest countries have responsibility responding to modern slavery both domestically and beyond their borders.
“Developed economies are exposed to the risk of modern slavery not only when this crime is perpetrated within their national borders but also when that risk is effectively transferred to them via the products they import.
“Policymakers, businesses and consumers must become aware of this risk and take responsibility for it.”