Submissions on the Modern Slavery Bill close 28 May 2026 (read the full Bill here).
The Bill, which is backed by both National and Labour, would establish reporting requirements for businesses and Crown agencies in New Zealand that earn more than $100 million a year. Businesses would be criminally liable if they fail to meet those requirements - shining a much-needed light on New Zealand's supply chains.
World Vision NZ estimated that in 2022 around $8 billion worth of goods at high risk of being made with forced or child labour were imported to New Zealand - around 10% of total goods imports that year. There are also incidences of modern slavery within New Zealand, with migrant workers the most at-risk group.
The NZCTU will be supporting the Modern Slavery Bill. It is a vital first step toward protecting the most vulnerable workers, both in New Zealand and internationally.
Start your submission with your stance
e.g., "I support the Modern Slavery Bill."
Why do you have this stance?
Why does this matter to you? Tell the committee why you want to see the Modern Slavery Bill pass.
- Do you work in a sector where knowing what's happening in your supply chains would be valuable?
- Have you witnessed or experienced extreme labour exploitation firsthand?
- Do you have experience with human rights reporting?
- Are you someone who cares about buying ethically made goods?
Make your recommendation
If you agree with the Bill, you can recommend the Bill is passed or passed with changes. Be clear and specific in your recommendation:
- e.g., "I recommend the Modern Slavery Bill is passed." OR "I recommend the Modern Slavery Bill is passed with the following amendments…"
The NZCTU will be recommending that:
- The regulator must be empowered and resourced to enforce compliance.
- The annual revenue threshold should be lowered over time, so that more businesses must engage with the Bill.
- An Anti-Slavery Commissioner should be established to raise the profile of the issue, identify high-risk sectors, and engage with businesses on their reporting.
- Support and remedies must be available for victims of modern slavery in New Zealand.
Other things to keep in mind
- Be specific. If you have stories to tell about labour exploitation and modern slavery, or data to draw on, this will help make your submission more compelling to the committee.
- Keep it relevant. The Bill will not address all the problems with labour exploitation in New Zealand and our supply chains. We recommend keeping your comments focused on what the Bill can achieve, and how it could be realistically strengthened.
- Keep it respectful. Leave out any personal attacks on political parties or MPs - these could lead to your submission being left out. Don't include any offensive language.
