National and Labour team up to speed up modern slavery legislation

Thursday, 29 January 2026

The Human Rights Commission says New Zealand's current work visa scheme may be facilitating human trafficking and modern slavery

National and Labour party MPs have teamed up to fast-track lawmaking that will tighten regulations to stop modern slavery.

Labour MP Camilla Belich and National MP Greg Fleming have co-sponsored the Modern Slavery Bill. It would mean that large companies report on how they have identified or mitigated the risk of slavery being used in supply chains they are part of.

The Modern Slavery Bill isn’t going through as a Government bill because the ACT Party wasn’t supporting it.

If this was a Government bill, ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden would be in charge of it - given it falls in her portfolio area as workplace relations.

“Well, it’s not a priority for her - but it’s certainly a priority for National,” Fleming said.

“For the legislation to get through Cabinet, it obviously needed the full support of Cabinet - and they weren’t supportive of it,” he said.

Labour MP Camilla Belich and National MP Greg Fleming have co-sponsored the Modern Slavery Bill.

Recent World Vision research into the issue of modern slavery in New Zealand supply chains has raised alarm about the products we buy. It found that the retail market was likely flooded with goods made through modern slavery, or dangerous working conditions. Electronics, clothing and even food and beverages goods were at risk of being made using child labour or forced labour, it said.

The Modern Slavery Bill was introduced as a members’ bill, meaning it was not Government policy. Members’ bills received less time to be debated in the House, and it’s up to luck as to whether the bill will be debated at all. When there is time to debate member’s bills, there’s a lucky draw to pick the bill to debate.

By these two MPs from opposite sides of the House joining forces, they were able to fast-track the bill’s progress.

Parliament’s rules state that if 61 MPs say they support the introduction of a member’s bill, that bill will be put up for debate the following day.

National MP Greg Fleming has worked with a Labour MP to pass the Modern Slavery Bill.

With the National and Labour Party caucuses backing the bill, it would go straight to the debating chamber.

Fleming said he was happy the parties had been able to “bypass the biscuit tin”.

“This issue is close to my heart, and I’ve been working on this legislation since I came to Parliament,” he said.

Labour MP Camilla Belich says New Zealand is lagging behind on stopping modern slavery.

“It’s time that New Zealand has a coordinated framework to deal with modern slavery, and this bill does just that,” he added.

The bill, if enacted, would impose fines of up to $200,000 for companies that refused to publish - or published false - statements about their supply chains and modern slavery practices.

Belich said this bill was following what other countries had already enacted.

“The legislation will bring New Zealand into line with key partners like the United Kingdom and the European Union. When we signed free trade agreements with these partners, we said we would act on modern slavery, and through this joint Bill we are keeping that promise.

“I’m proud that both sides of the House have come together to stand against exploitation, and grateful to the advocates, organisations and businesses who have pushed for this change,” she said.

The previous Labour Government started work to introduce modern slavery legislation, but that stalled with the change of government in 2023.