Child labor and forced labor violations are on the rise. Are they in your supply chain?

On the 5th of September, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor released significant updates aimed at tackling child labor and forced labor worldwide and the Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) published the 11th edition of the “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor” and the 23rd edition of “Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor." 

Since 2022, the list has grown from 159 goods in 78 countries to 204 goods in 82 countries and areas.  In addition, 72 goods, including consumer goods, electronics, garments, textiles, and manufacturing were added.

As shared by Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, during the Washington Foreign Press Center Briefing, the expansion highlights that current public and private sector efforts to address labor exploitation are not keeping pace with evolving global manufacturing trends that put workers at risk – at risk of unsafe working conditions, of exploitative child labor, of forced labor, or repression for trying to organize a union.

Furthermore, she shares, that is important to note that global supply chains are complex and ever-changing, involving multiple layers from smallholder farms and agricultural laborers through processors, manufacturers, wholesalers, and ultimately retailers and that this complexity can obscure visibility into labor practices which make them hard to detect and address, yet as stated by Marcia Eugenio, the director of the Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking in the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, “the complexity of global supply chains is not an excuse for inaction. Instead, it's a call for more innovative, comprehensive and collaborative approaches to ensuring ethical labor practices worldwide.” 

Click on the link below to read 3 take aways from the global child and forced labor reporting and feel free to reach out to Intertek to see how we can support your business with our carefully thought out solutions to limit child and forced labor risks in your supply chain or visit Social Responsibility Solutions (intertek.com).