The Fight You Can’t Ignore: Matt Friedman on Modern Slavery Today
In this episode of Future Bites, Heidi sat down with Matt Friedman, CEO of The Mekong Club, long-time Future Green partner. Matt has spent decades confronting one of the most urgent and overlooked crises of our time: modern slavery.
Listen to the full podcast interview here
🎧 Hit play to dive into the full podcast with Heidi & Matt.
Here’s the shocking truth—modern slavery is not a relic of the past. It’s happening right now. Over 27 million people worldwide are trapped in forced labour, trafficking, or coercive work. From the seafood we buy to the chocolate we love, exploitation hides in plain sight. Matt’s mission is clear: make the invisible visible, and awaken more people to take action.
What modern slavery really looks like today
When people hear the word “slavery”, they often picture chains from history books. But as Matt explains, modern slavery is different
Hidden beneath calm waters lie the unseen stories of forced labour at sea.
Photo credit: Unsplash
He shares vivid examples—from South-East Asian fishing fleets where men are tricked into work and held at sea for years, to cocoa plantations in West Africa where children are trapped in hazardous conditions. And it’s not limited to remote corners of the world. Modern slavery is embedded in global supply chains that touch every one of us.
Inside the supply chains where business and human rights intersect.
Photo credit: Mekong Club
The Mekong Club: why business is key
While many NGOs focus on grassroots advocacy, The Mekong Club took a bold approach: partner directly with businesses. Why? Because corporations run the supply chains where exploitation festers—and they also hold the resources and influence to drive systemic change.
The Mekong Club works with sectors like manufacturing, finance, and hospitality, providing tools that are practical and scalable:
- Baseline assessments with 50+ questions that reveal an organisation’s readiness to tackle forced labour. (Many companies score only 40–50 out of 100 on their first attempt.)
- E-learning modules in multiple languages that train teams across continents.
- Blockchain-powered traceability platforms that map out lower-tier suppliers and track whether audits, risk checks, and remediation steps are actually being carried out.
Modern slavery wears many faces — from fields to factories worldwide.
Photo credit: Unsplash
Busting the myths that hold us back
Matt is quick to debunk the biggest misconceptions:
- “Slavery ended long ago.” No—it just changed shape.
- “My suppliers are reputable, so we’re safe.” Maybe at the top tier. But what about five tiers down?
- “A certification solves everything.” Some certifications are robust, others aren’t. Blind trust can leave companies exposed.
The hard truth: supply chains are messy. But ignorance isn’t a defence—consumers, regulators, and the media are demanding more.
A new kind of slavery in the digital age
One of the most chilling topics Matt raises is the rise of scam centres—a form of “digital slavery” that has exploded since COVID-19 and is keeping him busy of late.
Here’s how it works: young professionals are lured by fake job adverts offering lucrative opportunities abroad. Once they arrive, passports are taken, and they are forced to work 14–16 hours a day running online scams. Violence, torture, and even electric shock devices are used to enforce compliance.
A new frontier of exploitation: digital slavery in the age of online scams.
Photo credit: Unsplash
And it’s not just a regional issue. These scam compounds are spreading across Asia and beyond, becoming one of the fastest-growing forms of organised exploitation.
The Mekong Club is tackling this crisis with multilingual awareness campaigns and partnerships that span Interpol, banks, crypto firms, telecom companies, social media platforms, and even satellite providers. The goal is to disrupt the enablers and rescue victims before it’s too late.
Awakening the Advocate — Matt Friedman’s call to act against modern slavery. Read all about it in his book.
Awakening the Advocate: Matt’s call to action
Alongside his organisational work, Matt is also a prolific author. His latest book, Awakening the Advocate, blends three powerful threads:
- Stories from the front lines of human trafficking and forced labour.
- Personal reflections on how childhood experiences and life challenges can shape a sense of purpose.
- A call to action—urging readers to align their values with their work and step up as advocates for change.
Why hope still matters
With numbers so overwhelming, it’s easy to feel powerless. But Matt insists that progress is possible. Every company that strengthens its supply chain, every individual who spreads awareness, every government that enforces accountability—these steps add up.
What gives him hope? The growing movement of people and businesses who are no longer willing to look away. “Ending modern slavery is not impossible,” he says. “But it requires more of us to awaken—to act.”
Your move: small steps, big impact
Matt leaves us with a roadmap anyone can follow:
- Start with a baseline—where do your company or suppliers stand?
- Educate your teams—short trainings can ripple widely.
- Map deeper—don’t stop at top-tier suppliers; push for visibility into the tail.
- Pressure-test claims—verify certifications, set up grievance channels, and invest in remediation.
- Spread awareness—especially on scam centres, where prevention saves lives.
Real lives, real work, real change — ending exploitation starts with awareness.
Photo credit: Unsplash
Modern slavery thrives in silence, but silence is something each of us can break. Matt’s work with The Mekong Club shows that change doesn’t start with perfection—it starts with awareness, courage, and the willingness to take the first step. Whether you’re a business leader, a student, or simply someone who cares, your choices ripple outward.
The time to act is now.
Take Action Now
You don’t have to be an NGO or a government to make a difference. You just have to start.
👉 Contact Matt Friedman at matt.friedman@themekongclub.org
👉 Visit The Mekong Club to explore resources, tools, and ways to partner.
Because the fight against modern slavery isn’t someone else’s problem—it’s all of ours.
