Unethical labour practices represent a pressing global issue, with an estimated 50 million people currently living in such conditions worldwide. The prevalence of unethical labour practices is expected to increase due to ongoing regional conflicts, economic downturns, and restrictive migration policies in major Western countries. Digital technologies, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing, promise significant benefits in addressing unethical labour practices and have consequently attracted increasing scholarly attention.
Modern slavery is one of the most serious forms of unethical labour practices, commonly conceptualized as the recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women, or men through means such as coercion, deception, abuse of vulnerability, or the use of force, for the primary purpose of exploitation. It encompasses multiple practices, with prevalent forms including child slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, descent-based slavery, bonded labour, forced and early marriage, and domestic servitude. According to the latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, an estimated 49.6 million people are living in conditions of modern slavery worldwide, including 22 million in forced marriage and 27.6 million in forced labour. Ongoing regional conflicts and expulsionist migration policies are expected to further exacerbate modern slavery by intensifying violence, displacing populations, and disrupting social and economic structures.
Digital technologies encompass a diverse range of tools, systems, and devices that leverage digital information and processes to enhance activities. These technologies include but are not limited to AI, blockchains, internet of things (IoT), big data analytics, cloud computing, and virtual and augmented reality. Big data and cloud computing are increasingly integrated into enterprise resource planning systems in manufacturing to support informed decision-making. Generative AI applications are being adopted in higher education to enable more efficient information access and content creation.
Digital technologies promise significant benefits for addressing unethical labour practices. Monitoring technologies such as remote sensors and worker voice technologies can enhance the identification of unethical labour practices within supply chains. Machine learning and AI can detect patterns of trafficking and slavery in large datasets, facilitating identification of at-risk areas or vulnerable individuals. Blockchain technology can be employed to track supply chain elements, helping to mitigate labour exploitation. Additionally, digital technologies have been proposed as effective tools to support the social inclusion of survivors of modern slavery.
The potential of digital technologies to address unethical labour practices has been consistently highlighted by various international organizations. The United Nations Human Rights Office has proposed that digital technologies are an effective means to prevent and address contemporary forms of slavery. Research conducted in partnership with the International Organization for Migration and other organizations has indicated that although digital technologies can support adults with lived experience of unethical labour practices in reintegrating into society, limited research constrains deeper understanding of these mechanisms.
Although existing studies have examined the role of digital technologies in addressing unethical labour practices, significant research gaps remain. Current literature has primarily examined technologies from the perspective of focal firms or single technology approaches, while other digital technologies such as biometrics recognition and satellite imagery employed by governments and non-governmental organizations also hold significant potential. Literature reviews indicate that while unethical labour practices remain pressing, there is limited research examining how digital technologies can be employed to monitor, detect, report, and address unethical labour practices, and there is a need for further empirical research to advance understanding in this area.
This special issue invites scholars and practitioners to examine the interplay between digital technologies and unethical labour practices, particularly the ways in which digital technologies can be employed to monitor, detect, report, and remediate unethical labour practices in pursuit of an ethical, responsible, and sustainable society. We welcome original, theory-driven research that makes significant contributions to advancing knowledge on this topic. Submissions may use various research methodologies, including theoretical and conceptual approaches, analytical and modelling, case studies and interviews, surveys, and literature reviews. All submissions must clearly identify the specific types of digital technologies being examined.
We particularly welcome studies that move beyond surface-level narratives and dominant discourse to provide nuanced and sophisticated insights into the nexus between digital technologies and unethical labour practices. Submissions that challenge existing paradigms, explore underexamined dimensions, or offer innovative perspectives and frameworks are especially encouraged. We seek contributions that extend theoretical boundaries and yield practical implications, thereby informing policymakers, business leaders, and wider society on how to leverage digital technologies to drive meaningful and lasting change in the fight against unethical labour practices.