Head of ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour addresses European Parliament hearing on the trade aspects of the EU instrument to tackle forced labour
The Chair of the ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour welcomed the European Commission’s Proposal for a forced labour products ban, and called for a whole of society approach to eradicate forced labour.
Douglas Opio, the Chair of the ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour (ILO GBNFL) and Executive Director of the Federation of Uganda Employers, addressed a public hearing on the Trade aspects of the EU instrument to tackle forced labour, organized by the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament.
Mr Opio welcomed the European Commission’s Proposal to prohibit products made with forced labour from entering or leaving the EU market. “Our Network’s research shows that forced labour is a systemic issue and in order to eradicate it, we will need a whole of society approach. The burden cannot fall on companies alone,” he said.
The Global Estimates on Modern Slavery display shocking figures, with approximately 28 million people in situations of forced labour on any given day in 2021. This number has increased by 2.7 million since 2016 and this increase was solely driven by forced labour in the private economy.
The ILO GBNFL Chair urged the EU to continue to expand its engagement with its Member States, trading partners, as well as with countries of origin for migrant workers, who are three times more likely to be in situations of forced labour.
This engagement should focus on addressing the root causes of forced labour, building capacity, sharing information, promoting effective laws and policies, and supporting labour inspection and enforcement. One also needs to pay attention to the criminal aspects and role of illicit traders.
If support is given to the private sector, particularly through employers’ organizations and business networks, this will build the capacity of the private sector to identify, prevent, and remediate forced labour. This will also ensure that companies do not avoid certain countries and recognize supply chains as an engine for job creation and economic growth.
Mr Opio pointed out that the EU should give special consideration to SMEs. Efforts must be made to engage with companies of all sizes and SMEs have largely been left without resources tailored to their needs.
As products are usually made up of many components, simple bans could disrupt entire supply chains. Hence, the Network encourages the EU to work with companies and their representative organizations which are actively addressing forced labour, to support their actions.
Mr Opio underscored the need to work within the framework of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights which stipulates that governments have a duty to protect, and companies have a responsibility to respect, and called on the EU to ensure this distinction when implementing this Proposal.
The ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour looks forward to working together with the EU to end forced labour, Mr Opio concluded.
Mr Opio welcomed the European Commission’s Proposal to prohibit products made with forced labour from entering or leaving the EU market. “Our Network’s research shows that forced labour is a systemic issue and in order to eradicate it, we will need a whole of society approach. The burden cannot fall on companies alone,” he said.
The Global Estimates on Modern Slavery display shocking figures, with approximately 28 million people in situations of forced labour on any given day in 2021. This number has increased by 2.7 million since 2016 and this increase was solely driven by forced labour in the private economy.
The ILO GBNFL Chair urged the EU to continue to expand its engagement with its Member States, trading partners, as well as with countries of origin for migrant workers, who are three times more likely to be in situations of forced labour.
This engagement should focus on addressing the root causes of forced labour, building capacity, sharing information, promoting effective laws and policies, and supporting labour inspection and enforcement. One also needs to pay attention to the criminal aspects and role of illicit traders.
If support is given to the private sector, particularly through employers’ organizations and business networks, this will build the capacity of the private sector to identify, prevent, and remediate forced labour. This will also ensure that companies do not avoid certain countries and recognize supply chains as an engine for job creation and economic growth.
Mr Opio pointed out that the EU should give special consideration to SMEs. Efforts must be made to engage with companies of all sizes and SMEs have largely been left without resources tailored to their needs.
As products are usually made up of many components, simple bans could disrupt entire supply chains. Hence, the Network encourages the EU to work with companies and their representative organizations which are actively addressing forced labour, to support their actions.
Mr Opio underscored the need to work within the framework of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights which stipulates that governments have a duty to protect, and companies have a responsibility to respect, and called on the EU to ensure this distinction when implementing this Proposal.
The ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour looks forward to working together with the EU to end forced labour, Mr Opio concluded.