Hidden Traffic : New Human Trafficking and Child Labor Regulation in Canada with Sean Stephenson
Third Party Ethical Audits
Fraud Eats Strategy - Human Trafficking is Everyone’s Problem: Steps that Organizations Can Take to Disrupt Human Trafficking
The use of forced labor, child labor, or modern slavery practices (collectively “forced labor”) in supply chains is not a new problem in the international trade world; however, many companies remain unaware of forced labor...more
As businesses finalize their reports under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (the Act) in advance of the May 31, 2024, statutory deadline, Public Safety Canada has updated its...more
In the last few years, changes to the United States enforcement stance on the forced labor import ban authorized by 19 U.S.C. § 1307 and passage of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) have fundamentally changed the...more
On September 26, 2023, the Bureau of Internal Labor Affairs (ILAB) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its 2022 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report, analyzing the state of child labor in 131 countries...more
Bill S-211 – the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act – which requires businesses to report on their efforts to combat forced and child labour, is set to take effect in 2024. In this post,...more
Katten ESG Guidepost is a monthly publication highlighting the latest news, legal and regulatory developments involving environmental, social and governance matters....more
Anyone who has been watching the news lately has probably noticed a recent uptick in stories about child labor. What is causing this increased attention? The Department of Labor’s (DOL) increased focus on child labor is...more
On May 11, 2023, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, S.C. 2023, c. 9 (the “New Act”) received Royal Assent and became law. Formerly known as Bill S-211, the New Act requires certain...more
On May 11, 2023, Canada passed An Act to enact Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff (the “Act”). As we reported previously, the Act will create supply chain...more
On May, 3, 2023, the House of Commons passed Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff (the Act). The Act introduces a public...more
National and supranational legislatures continue to develop laws requiring employers to conduct due diligence of their operations and those of their business partners in order to address human rights risks such as forced...more
Canada’s proposed “modern slavery” legislation – the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (“New Act”) – is currently awaiting consideration by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign...more
Corporate Obligations to Address Forced Labor in Supply Chains Relevant to You? International organizations like the International Labor Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the...more
On February 3, 2022, Senators Joshua Hawley (R) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D) introduced a bill aimed at preventing the use of forced labor in corporate supply chains by requiring certain publicly traded companies to perform...more
In January 2022, the New York State Senate introduced a bill that seeks to impose significant human rights and environmental due diligence and disclosure obligations on fashion retail sellers and manufacturers operating in...more
The Biden Administration’s interest in reducing the occurrence of forced labor or indentured child labor in the global supply chain, and the parallel goals of corporate social responsibility, are driving increased attention...more
On December 23, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”). Most notably, the UFLPA strengthens the enforcement of Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by imposing a rebuttable...more
The holiday season is a time for contemplation, reflection, and planning for the future. Having spent nearly two years in a pandemic, moreover, has no doubt caused many of us to reassess our values and priorities. With the...more
Human trafficking is the fastest-growing transnational crime, with more than 25 million people in forced labor and sexual exploitation. As if these numbers aren’t horrifying enough, 10 million of those trafficked people are...more
Brands Must Ensure Forced Labor is Not Used and Environmental Claims are Accurate - In response to consumer demand, the fashion industry has embraced Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) sourcing, including...more
On 21st January 2021, a roundtable was organised by the Association Française des Juristes d’Entreprises (AFJE), Doctrine and Le Grand Continent to discuss where Business and Human Rights issues stand. the following topic....more
As the world continues to battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, the resulting economic and social stress has brought many human rights issues to the fore, exacerbating systemic issues and generating new challenges. Yet the...more
This summer, one of the UK’s best-known online brands found its supply chain at the center of a high-profile modern slavery investigation. Within hours of the story breaking the company’s share price plummeted, as...more
Key Takeaways - Slave, forced, and child labor is a modern-day reality impacting some 40 million people throughout the world, by some estimates. Such practices are—and have always been—repugnant, and certainly have no place...more
The Situation: On November 13, 2019, the Child Labor Due Diligence Act ("Act") was published in the Dutch Government Gazette. The law introduces a duty of care for companies to prevent the supply of goods or services which...more