Plan of action against forced labour, people trafficking and slavery
The all-of-government plan of action against forced labour, people trafficking and slavery sets out a high-level framework for the actions that agencies will take over the next five years to 2025, to combat these practices.
On this page
Combatting modern forms of slavery: Plan of action against forced labour, people trafficking and slavery [PDF 207KB]
About the plan of action
Forced labour, people trafficking and slavery are serious forms of exploitation seen internationally and within New Zealand. Addressing these practices requires a whole-of-society response, undertaken through strong partnerships across government agencies and with civil society, businesses, unions, academia and international partners.
The plan of action is comprised of 28 actions organised across three key pillars: Prevention, Protection, and Enforcement. These pillars are underpinned by a partnership approach, with effective partnership being critical to success.
The plan of action will ensure:
- New Zealand implements measures to meet its international commitments and prevent the conditions that enable forced labour, people trafficking and slavery. This includes meeting our commitments under the Forced Labour Protocol, which came into force for New Zealand in December 2020.
- New Zealand works to proactively identify victims and supports them to safety and recovery by putting their protection and needs at the heart of our responses.
- The enforcement tools available to disrupt exploitation and hold people to account, particularly through prosecution, are effectively used.
The plan of action will be implemented over the course of the next five years to 2025. A wide range of key agencies are responsible for the government’s efforts to address forced labour, people trafficking and slavery, including:
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment;
- New Zealand Police;
- Oranga Tamariki — Ministry for Children;
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
- Ministry of Justice;
- New Zealand Customs Service;
- Department of Internal Affairs;
- Ministry of Social Development;
- Ministry of Health;
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples; and
- the Ministry for Women.
All agencies have a role to play – whether directly or indirectly. For example, some regulatory agencies have a role to play in identifying the signs and symptoms of exploitation, while other agencies will have a role to play in supporting policy development and awareness-raising activity.
The plan of action's high-level nature reflects that new approaches may need to be undertaken to adjust to the changing nature and means by which forced labour, people trafficking and slavery are carried out. We will continue to review our approach to ensure it is effective and appropriate.
Annual implementation reports
Reporting on the Plan of Action is important to show ongoing commitment to these issues, to maintain focus in this area, to allow greater awareness in agencies of complementary work underway, and to provide stakeholder groups outside government the ability to understand, influence and support government activities. The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety has agreed that annual implementation reports will be produced and published on the MBIE website.
Who to contact about exploitation
If you are aware of, or suspect someone has been trafficked, contact your local Police for help. The Police can be reached by calling 105, or if it’s an emergency, call 111.
Find your local Police station(external link)
To report workplace exploitation, contact the MBIE Service Centre on 0800 20 90 20.
To report a case anonymously: call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or complete the Online Crimestoppers form.
Online Crimestoppers form(external link)
The online form link above takes you to the secure Crimestoppers web form. You and your computer are anonymous. Their call handlers read what you have sent them and will take out any information that might identify you before forwarding it to the relevant authorities in New Zealand.