Forced Labor news and archive

New report unveils child labour concerns at Indian cotton farms

A new report by Transparentem has brought forth worrying allegations of child labour, abusive working conditions and wage violations at Indian cotton farms linked to 60 global brands. The organisation’s initial investigation began in 2022 and ran until March 2023, with the report further underlining companies’ efforts to remediate the issues as...

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US extends import ban to dozens of Chinese companies on forced-labour claims

Dozens more Chinese companies have been added to the US’ growing blacklist for allegedly using forced-labour. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified a further 29 businesses that it said were using forced Uyghur labour in China’s Xinjiang province to produce goods. As such, these firms are now banned from importing into the US....

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Shein finds cases of child labour and forced labour in supply chain

Shein has discovered two criminal offences in its supply chain between Q1 and Q3 2023, the Chinese fast fashion giant stated in its recently published sustainability report. Both cases, involving child labour and forced labour, were 'swiftly resolved', the company said. Shein is ramping up checks on its suppliers, including checking workers'...

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US blocks textile imports from 26 Chinese companies amid forced labour concerns

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its efforts to combat forced labour in the supply chain by adding 26 textile companies based in China to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. This move, effective May 17th, restricts goods produced by these entities from entering the United States, targeting...

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EU Parliament and Council unite to ban products made by forced labour

In a landmark move, the European Union Council and the European Parliament have forged a provisional agreement aimed at prohibiting the importation of goods manufactured using forced labour into the expansive European single market. The agreement delineates clear roles for both the EU Commission and member states in the identification of...

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US imposes import restrictions on three additional Chinese companies with forced labour links

The United States has expanded import restrictions, targeting three additional Chinese companies implicated in using forced labour, particularly involving Uyghur minorities, in an effort to eliminate such goods from the U.S. supply chain. Xinjiang Tianmian Foundation Textile Co Ltd, Xinjiang Tianshan Wool Textile Co. Ltd, and Xinjiang Zhongtai...

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Ralph Lauren, Diesel and Hugo Boss face Canadian watchdog investigation for forced labour claims

A number of fashion and apparel companies are facing investigations by a Canadian watchdog in regards to complaints alleging there was evidence of forced labour in their production. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) published its initial reports for each of the companies in question, responding to a series of complaints...

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Canada launches enquiry into alleged use of Uyghur forced labour by Nike

Nike is facing fresh scrutiny as Canada's ethics watchdog investigates allegations of Uyghur forced labour in the company's Chinese operations. The probe follows complaints filed by human rights groups, reported the BBC. Nike claims it severed ties with the accused companies. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (Core) has...

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Fast fashion giant Temu has no processes in place to prevent forced labour, says report

America’s Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, led by Chairman Mike Gallagher and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, has released an interim report on the investigations into Chinese fast fashion brands Shein and Temu. These investigations were initiated alongside inquiries into Nike and Adidas. The report reveals alarming findings...

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France drops fashion group probe over Uyghur labour

French magistrates have dropped a probe into allegations four fashion groups profited from forced labour of the Uyghur minority in China, prosecutors said Thursday. The national anti-terror prosecutor's office in Paris, which looks into purported crimes against humanity, said it had halted the investigation. The plaintiffs' lawyer William...

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Nike, Adidas, Shein, Temu in US probe over forced labour in China

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the United States is currently scrutinising some of the world's largest brands regarding forced labour and origin of their cotton-based products. The committee has sent letters to major fashion and sportswear retailers, including Nike, Adidas, Shein, and Temu, to inquire about...

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US lawmakers urge scrutiny of fashion firm Shein over forced labor reports

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has urged securities regulators to require fashion upstart Shein to attest it does not use forced Chinese labor as a condition of a public offering. Citing reports that the fast-growing discount apparel company uses cotton from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, two dozen members of the House of...