NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, formally announced at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City today that it has partnered with eight other global companies to form the Global Business Coalition Against Trafficking, which provides businesses with tools designed to end all forms of human trafficking.  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110330/CG73938LOGO-a)

"Fully engaging the corporate community is a critical step in the war to end modern-day slavery," said David Arkless, ManpowerGroup's President of Global Corporate and Government Affairs and gBCAT co-chair. "Human trafficking is a global problem which can only be eradicated by mobilizing global solutions. Corporations need to take action, get involved and become part of the solution."

gBCAT will work to mobilize the expertise, resources and voices of coalition members to abolish human trafficking across industries. Founding members include: Carlson, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, ExxonMobil, LexisNexis, ManpowerGroup, Microsoft, NXP and Travelport. These members are committed to assisting to eradicate trafficking in supply chains where incidences of forced labor may be currently undetectable. More than 21 million slaves exist in the world today, according to the International Labor Organization.

At the Clinton meeting today, President Barack Obama spoke out against human trafficking and cited gBCAT. Ending human trafficking "is one of the great human rights causes of our time," the President said.

As a thought leaders' forum, gBCAT will develop and share best practices for preventing traffickers for entering a company's operations. gBCAT will pursue training modules for employees and general awareness-raising among consumers, suppliers and partners. gBCAT members will also continue collaborating with governments, NGOs and the general public to build out the cross-sector solutions which are necessary to eliminate all forms of modern slavery. 

ManpowerGroup has tirelessly worked for years through partner organizations such as Polaris, Verite, End Human Trafficking Now! and the U.S. Department of State to broaden the business world's awareness of how traffickers can take over a supply chain.

ManpowerGroup was the first company to sign the Athens Ethical Principles, which declare a "zero tolerance" policy for working with any entity, which benefits in any way, from human trafficking. Since then, more than 12,000 organizations have signed up directly, or through their industry federations.

About gBCAT
gBCAT is a coalition of global businesses, mobilizing the power, resources and thought leadership of the global business community to abolish human trafficking, including all forms of forced labor and sex trafficking. gBCAT will help guide companies who desire to understand human trafficking and how it affects business and provide resources for orientation and operational guidance. gBCAT will champion and disseminate best practices and drive connections between businesses and governments, international organizations, non-profits and civil society for the purpose of knowledge and idea sharing on solutions to address human trafficking. Founding members include: ManpowerGroup, NXP, ExxonMobil, Coca-Cola, Carlson, Delta Air Lines, Ford, LexisNexis, Microsoft, Travelport, and Cision.

About ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup™ (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, creates and delivers high-impact solutions that enable our clients to achieve their business goals and enhance their competitiveness. With over 60 years of experience, our $22 billion company creates unique time to value through a comprehensive suite of innovative solutions that help clients win in the Human Age. These solutions cover an entire range of talent-driven needs from recruitment and assessment, training and development, and career management, to outsourcing and workforce consulting. ManpowerGroup maintains the world's largest and industry-leading network of nearly 3,900 offices in 80 countries and territories, generating a dynamic mix of an unmatched global footprint with valuable insight and local expertise to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, across all industry sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises, local, multinational and global companies. By connecting our deep understanding of human potential to the ambitions of clients, ManpowerGroup helps the organizations and individuals we serve achieve more than they imagined — because their success leads to our success. And by creating these powerful connections, we create power that drives organizations forward, accelerates personal success and builds more sustainable communities. We help power the world of work. The ManpowerGroup suite of solutions is offered through ManpowerGroup™ Solutions, Manpower®, Experis™ and Right Management®. Learn more about how the ManpowerGroup can help you win in the Human Age at www.manpowergroup.com.

ManpowerGroup is the most trusted brand in the industry, and was once again the only company in our industry to be named to the Ethisphere Institute's 2012 World's Most Ethical Companies list for our proven commitment to ethical business practices, including an outstanding commitment to ethical leadership, compliance practices and corporate social responsibility.

In January 2011, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, ManpowerGroup announced the world has entered the Human Age, where talent has replaced capital as the key competitive differentiator. This concept of talentism as the new capitalism continues to resonate and was echoed as a core theme of the 2012 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Learn more about this new age at www.manpowergroup.com/humanage

Gain access to ManpowerGroup's extensive thought leadership papers, annual Talent Shortage surveys and the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, one of the most trusted indices of employment activity in the world, via the ManpowerGroup World of Work Insight iPad application. This thought leadership app explores the challenges faced by employers navigating the changing world of work and provides in-depth commentary, analysis, insight and advice on strategies for success. 

Follow ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres on Twitter: twitter.com/manpowergroupjj. Joerres is one of only 20 Fortune 500 CEOs who leverages a Twitter account to get his message out.

SOURCE ManpowerGroup