Forced Labour in Fashion Supply Chains
The issue of forced labour is so real in fashion’s complex and often, intransparent supply chains. The ILO estimates that over 24 million people globally make up forced labour in the private economy. Vulnerable groups like migrant workers are especially affected by this.
This said, legislation requiring companies to report on actions they are taking to address forced labour is gaining momentum (California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, UK Modern Slavery act), and in some industries, the private sector is leading by reporting even where reporting requirements don’t exist. Companies who do this well are already assessing forced labour risks throughout their supply chains, engaging with their suppliers and ensuring that their suppliers are trained and capable of addressing forced labour when it occurs.
The standards act as best practice guidance for companies:
The OECD Guidelines
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8.7
The UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
The Corporate Human Rights Benchmark
ILO’s Labour Standards
For examples of some of the work happening internationally on the eradication of forced labour in fashion supply chains, check out the following initiatives:
