Apple wins Stop Slavery Award, announces plans to help human trafficking victims

For the third annual Stop Slavery Award, Apple, Unilever and Thai Union are among the biggest global brands shortlisted from a number of high-profile companies representing a range of industries from fashion to financial services to fossil fuels. 

Winners were announced at the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s annual human rights conference, Trust Conference, on Wednesday, in London. The Stop Slavery Award recognizes companies that have taken concrete steps to eradicate forced labour from their supply chains. And it gives public recognition to corporations that are “best in class” at “demonstrating integrity, courage and innovation in cleaning their supply chains.”

What’s more, Apple has announced a program to help human trafficking victims get behind-the-scenes jobs at its stores. According to the BBC, the company has teamed up with a non-governmental organization, the UN’s International Organization for Migration , that will help the victims pass interviews for caretaker and landscaping posts among other roles. The individuals won’t be identified to Apple and will be employed by its suppliers rather than directly.