Kevin Bales

About the author: Kevin Bales is the director of Free the Slaves, the North American sister organization of Anti-Slavery International, and the author of Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy.

Today's slaves are cheap and disposable, making it easy for owners of brothels, plantations, and factories in developing nations to make huge profits from their labor. These producers sell their goods to businesses in industrialized nations, who then market them to unsuspecting consumers. Unfortunately, few Western businesses are taking action against unscrupulous suppliers. Many businesses contend that it is impossible to control how their products are made, and others maintain that the problem is not their responsibility. However, consumers and activists are becoming more aware of slavery and are pressuring businesses and governments to reduce the practice. As a result, more efforts are being made by...