Road to 5**﹕Modern slaves
【明報專訊】■Source A
The 2016 Global Slavery Index rankings (See picture)
■Source B
In Hong Kong, many ''modern slaves'' are just around us. According to a report published by Amnesty International in 2013, many domestic helpers of Indonesian descent have to surrender their important documents to their agencies or employers until they leave Hong Kong or pay off their debts. Such debts are often ''training fees'' which they paid before they left their hometown, and they are often overcharged by Hong Kong agencies after they arrive. Furthermore, if a domestic helper quits a job, she has to pay a commission fee again when looking for a new one. Foreign domestic helpers are also required by Hong Kong law to find a new employer within two weeks of the expiry of a contract. Such an ''impossible mission'' and the debts they are burdened with might impel them to accept many unreasonable conditions.
Source: Amnesty International Hong Kong
■Questions and answering guidelines
1. Identify the phenomenon in Source A. (4 marks)
To identify the phenomenon, do not just rely on the words provided. Try to organise and compare the information and mention that the most serious problem of ''modern slaves'' occurred in less well-off developing countries in Asia. Since these regions had slower economic development and were densely populated, they were more likely to have the problem of ''modern slaves''.
2. ''To solve the problem of modern slaves effectively, it is necessary for multinational corporations to shoulder some basic responsibilities.'' Do you agree with this view? Explain your answer. (8 marks)
This question is about who should be responsible for resolving the problem of ''modern slaves''. Students are advised to make good use of both sources and make a comparison of different stakeholders.
Those who agree with the argument should point out that, thanks to the tide of economic globalisation, international cooperation has become the primary way for multinational corporations to make massive profits. Unscrupulous suppliers often exploit the lack of a sound legal system, the loopholes in labour laws, people's limited knowledge and their unawareness of their own rights in poor nations, employing illegal means to intimidate workers to work on extremely low salaries. This is why multinational corporations should shoulder social responsibilities and stop cooperating with these suppliers. They should also enhance the transparency of their manufacturing processes so that consumers can know whether the processes are legal and just.
Those who disagree with the argument have to mention the intense competition between multinational corporations. Factories in developing countries, engaged in the ''race to the bottom'', cannot help but employ workers on a low salary or even force workers to work, so improving working conditions is out of the question. Multinational companies might not know exactly what is going on in a factory either. Furthermore, due to the intense competition between companies, the contract is often awarded to the lowest bidder. In other words, self-regulation by multinational companies might not be an effective way to solve the problem of ''modern slaves''.
Students must not forget to mention that other stakeholders – such as the government – also have a role to play. According to Source B, it can be suggested that the government should play a bigger role in prosecuting unscrupulous agencies. International organizations such as the United Nations can work together with countries to combat forced labour and advocate policies that protect the welfare of workers. Non-governmental organizations and the media can also play a supervisory role.
Text:：徐溯, Liberal Studies teacher at Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui College
Translation: Terence Yip
[通通識 第534期]
