Two new reports released this week call attention to the dangers of bribery and corruption in global supply chains and their links to modern day slavery. Modern Slavery and Corruption and An Exploratory Study on the Role of Corruption in International Labour Migration provide a snapshot of the extent and global spread of corrupt practices, the ways in which they interact with myriad forms of exploitation and the impact of legislation put in place to curb both.

Across Asia and the Middle East, rising incomes and accelerating investment in infrastructure have attracted multinationals eager to expand their global presence. But success in these high-growth emerging markets (HGEMs) often proves elusive.

A British senior executive working in China for the global pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline helped orchestrate a long-running bribery and fraud scheme that involved making secret payments to doctors, hospital staff and government officials to bolster drug sales, Chinese authorities said.