Many different solutions, strategies, and approaches have been proposed as part of efforts to combat forced and precarious labour. Not all of these solutions are compatible. Some point in one direction, while others point in another. Some are straight forward. Others are more challenging.

We, therefore, need to undertake a comparative analysis of what the most promising solutions to combating forced labour might look like, and how they might, in turn, contribute to a larger overall strategy for effectively challenging global patterns of exploitation and vulnerability.

Once again, this is not a graded exercise which has one right answer. We instead want you to make up your own mind regarding which of many potential solutions are likely to have a positive effect, and which potential solutions are instead likely to have limited or even negative effects.

In future weeks the list of potential solutions will be expanded to include additional options associated with different themes, such as supply chains, migration, and sex work. We will also be adding a further layer to the exercise which focuses upon relative levels of political difficulty.

By the end of the course, you should have come to an overall conclusion regarding what you think the most effective solutions are likely to be, and should, therefore, have a platform for action and analysis.

To complete this exercise, you once again assign a colour to each of the solutions identified below based on your assessment of what you believe their overall effects are likely to be.

Reflecting upon potential solutions:

• Likely to hurt, rather than help: Red
• Likely to make no real difference either way: Light blue
• Likely have a minor positive effect on forced and precarious labour: Yellow
• Likely to have moderately positive effects on forced and precarious labour: Light Green
• Likely to have a major positive effect on forced and precarious labor: Darker Green
• Not really sure about overall effects: White

Round two (week four):

1. Raising awareness campaigns and ‘Spotting the signs’
2. Consuming ‘ethical’ fair trade goods and services.
3. National hotlines.
4. Further research to close the ‘evidence gap’.
5. Collective organising and unionisation of workers.
6. Joint employer and intermediary liability

This list is by no means exhaustive, so we would also encourage you to contemplate and develop a case for why other factors should also be included.

Activity instructions

1. Click on the activity so it opens in a full screen.
2. Assign a colour to each factor by clicking that colour on the strip next to that factor block.
3. Click on the factors block to show additional information. To exit additional information, click of the text “exit” found at the top right-hand side of the additional information square.
4. When you are finished, take a screenshot of your answers for future reference. We will be returning to them later.
5. Push ESC. To exit full-screen mode.