New investigations are highlighting once again the rampant use of forced labour globally. We’re working with civil society partners to urge immediate action by countries like Canada to halt and prevent this abuse.
Ottawa has promised new legislation to “strengthen” the forced labour import ban and “eradicate” forced labour from Canadian supply chains. In this submission to the government, we call for the adoption of a mandatory due diligence law and reforms to improve enforcement of the import ban.
Amidst increasing awareness of Canadian ties to forced labour overseas, Ottawa is being urged to make better use of legal tools to attack the problem. In this brief, we take stock of Canada’s existing legislation and policies related to forced labour in international supply chains, and how they are — or aren’t — being enforced.
In a joint submission with the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability, we’ve written to the UN’s Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery to share our concerns that Canadian laws are inadequate to prevent or remedy forced labour in companies’ supply chains.
How are Canadian firms responding to reports of forced labour in their supply chains? We asked dozens of companies whose suppliers have faced high-profile allegations of abuse. More than half of them didn’t reply.
Unacceptable working conditions are ubiquitous in many global fisheries, and Canada is falling behind other countries on taking action to end the abuse, write staff from Above Ground and the Centre international de solidarité ouvrière in this Toronto Star op-ed.
Last month Ottawa cancelled two contracts to purchase gloves made by Supermax Corporation in Malaysia, drawing attention once again to slavery risks in Canadian supply chains.
Close to 25 million women, men and children are trapped in forced labour around the globe, working under abusive conditions in the factories, fields, and other sites where much of the world’s — and Canada’s — goods are produced.
Canada’s enforcement of a ban on importing goods produced by forced workers will fall short of standards set by the U.S. example unless Ottawa strengthens its policies, according to a report released today by Above Ground.
Above Ground works to ensure that companies based in Canada or supported by the Canadian state respect human rights and the environment worldwide. It is a project of MakeWay, a national charity that builds partnerships and solutions to help nature and communities thrive together.
Above Ground c/o MakeWay
400-163 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H5
438-992-5163
