EU member states have a ‘moral obligation’ to immediately enforce the ban on goods produced through forced labour which takes effect today.
While members states have up to three years to implement it, the evidence from the International Labour Organisation shows there is no time to waste:
- There are 28 million people in forced labour around the world, including 3.3 million children
- 236 billion US dollars is the level of annual profit generated from forced labour in the world
- Total illegal profits are highest in Europe and Central Asia (84.2 billion US dollars)
Claes-Mikael Stahl, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said:
“For too long, companies have got away with making obscene profits on the backs of exploiting vulnerable people across the world.
“The fact that Europe is the largest contributor to profits from forced labour places a moral obligation on member states to enforce this ban without delay.
“The ETUC will use its extensive international network to support the Commission and reputable employers to identify and tackle instances of forced labour along the supply chain."
Enrico Somaglia, General Secretary of European Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT), said:
“The agri-food supply chains are highly exposed to products harvested or produced with forced labour. Whether it is sugar cane production in Brazil, palm oil in Indonesia and Malaysia, cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire, or tomatoes and fish from China, exploitation is an evident risk.
“EFFAT, alongside its affiliates and the International Union of Food Workers, remains committed to addressing these issues through mechanisms established by the new European Regulation on Forced Labour. Systemic change lies in holding companies accountable for ethical practices, in implementing fundamental ILO conventions and in a completely different approach to trade agreements.”
