RATIONALIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL DEFLECTION ON THE GROUND COMBATTING MODERN SLAVERY IN SUPPLY CHAINS

Modern slavery has gained attention in society over the years alongside the enactment of legislation around the world targeting issues such as forced labour and highly exploitative forms of child labour in supply chains. However, there is a general convergence that global efforts to combat modern slavery have remained modest and largely ineffective. This chapter explores how businesses deflect growing institutional pressures surrounding the social responsibilities of businesses, particularly those concerned with taking action to combat modern slavery in supply chains. Drawing on insights from a range of businesses operating in Canada with global supply chains, prior to Canada’s enactment of legislation aimed at addressing the issue, the findings highlight an array of rationalizations that business professionals and businesses may embrace on the ground that give them and others the impression that they care about the issue of modern slavery in supply chains, but ultimately contribute to deflecting away the social responsibilities surrounding action that can contribute to combatting the issue. In exploring such rationalizations, this chapter advance our scholarly understanding of the important notion of deflection and its role in enabling modern slavery as well as our practical understanding of what deflection looks like on the ground.