19 March 2025. We recently attended the three-day Corporate Accountability Ecosystem Program Regional Exchange in Bangkok. The Program aims to strengthen corporate accountability by equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to investigate corporate misconduct, advocate for workers’ rights, and engage effectively with stakeholders.
Southeast Asia is a key manufacturing hub in the global supply chain, but labour rights in the region remain pressing. According to the most recent Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, released in 2022 by the International Labour Organization, Walk Free and the International Organization for Migration, the Asia-Pacific region has the highest number of people in modern slavery, which the report identifies as encompassing the two practices of forced labour and forced marriages. This underscores the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation for corporate accountability.
At the same time, Taiwanese businesses have been expanding their presence in Southeast Asia, often without adequate human rights safeguards. This issue is equally relevant within Taiwan itself. As of January 2025, Taiwan employed 818,467 migrant workers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam and has faced international scrutiny over reports of migrant worker abuse and exploitation.
In Bangkok, we explored practical skills, including digital security, negotiation and communication with corporations, and investigative and interview techniques. The sessions also featured inspiring case studies that demonstrated how these tools have been successfully used to hold businesses accountable.
We joined other civil society participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand for training. We exchanged updates on our latest projects, shared thoughts on our work, and discussed the support needed across different countries and transnational movements. At a time when frontline initiatives to combat labor exploitation are facing budget cuts, it is more critical than ever to share resources and stand in solidarity.
Every country faces unique challenges in business and human rights, and there are no universal solutions. This training allowed us to explore new techniques and apply practical skills to our daily work. The opportunity for collective growth and empowerment is invaluable—not only because corporate accountability is an urgent and critical issue, but because we, as citizens of the countries where violations and environmental harm occur, care passionately about our land and people.
—Shuhan Lin, WBI Project Officer
We deeply appreciate the opportunity to be part of this program and contribute to meaningful change.
