What is modern slavery

Forcing someone to work, marry or do other things through coercion (like manipulation, control or violence), threats or lies.

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In situations of modern slavery, 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. These include:

Modern slavery also includes the worst forms of child labour. 

It happens in every country, including Australia.

Someone experiencing modern slavery might be used, bought, sold or traded like property. They might be denied the freedom to decide how to live their life.  

They might have no choice about:

  • where and when they work
  • what they do
  • how long they work for.

They may feel they are not free to stop working, or leave the place where they work.  

They might not be able to choose who, when and if they marry, not fully understand what marriage means, or may have been a child under the age of 16 (in Australia) when they married.

Find out about the warning signs of modern slavery and how to report suspected modern slavery.

Modern slavery may have been used to produce the goods and services Australians buy and use. Learn more about Australia’s response to modern slavery in supply chains.

What is not modern slavery

There are other types of bad, unfair, abusive or illegal treatment that are not modern slavery. 

Dangerous or poor working conditions

Someone might be treated badly at work, or not paid properly. This is not acceptable, and they can get help from the Fair Work Ombudsman.  

Modern slavery includes the most serious forms of worker exploitation – where a person uses coercion, threats, or lies to make someone work for them or another person, and takes away their freedom and ability to make choices for themselves. 

If someone is not sure if their situation is modern slavery, they can still get help (see get help for yourself and support someone else).

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Modern slavery includes the most serious forms of worker exploitation.

Modern slavery

  • Coercion (like manipulation, control or violence), threats or lies to force a person to work
  • A person has no choice when and where they work
  • Working extremely long hours with no time off
  • Not paid or paid very little
  • Cannot leave the workplace
  • Passport or other identity documents taken away

Note: A person may be in modern slavery even if these warning signs are not present.

Dangerous or poor work conditions

  • Workplace is unsafe
  • A worker is not paid fairly or does not receive all their benefits (such as leave or superannuation)
  • Working extremely long hours
  • A person feels pressure not to stop or refuse excessive or unsafe work

Decent work

  • A person is paid fairly (at least the minimum wage) and receives all their benefits
  • Worker rights are respected
  • Safe workplace
  • A person feels free to change jobs

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Other abuse

Someone might be experiencing other types of abuse, such as:

These are serious crimes, and they can get help by contacting the police or one of these specialist organisations.  

People smuggling

People smuggling is different to human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. People smuggling is when a person pays another person to help them travel to another country without approval, such as a visa. People smuggling is criminalised in Australia under the Migration Act and Criminal Code, separately from human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. Find out more about people smuggling.

Need urgent help?

If you or someone you know is not safe, or it is an emergency, phone Triple Zero (000) and ask to speak to the police. You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.

Get help

What comes to mind when you think of slavery? Images of people in shackles? Slaving in a field? Small children sold at auction?

Well, sadly, slavery happens here in Australia. See, modern-day slavery isn't easily recognisable because people in slavery today could be exploited anywhere,

in domestic servitude, a restaurant, factory, or on a construction site. They are often tricked with false hopes of a good job, but instead are threatened,

coerced and controlled, and barely paid. The good news is their situation isn't hopeless, thanks to Anti-Slavery Australia, a specialist legal centre

dedicated to the abolition of slavery, forced labour, and forced marriage. Anti-Slavery Australia provides educational resources to the community and access to free legal and migration help

to individuals experiencing or at risk of slavery in Australia. To find out more, visit antislavery.org.au.

Related content

Guidance, training & resources

Find resources for frontline workers, members of the community, business and government, to help you make a difference in stopping modern slavery.

Get help for yourself

There is help and support for people experiencing or at risk of exploitation such as forced labour, forced marriage and other forms of modern slavery in Australia.

Support someone else

You may come across someone at work or in the community who is in or at risk of modern slavery. Find out how to support them.

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