Ten million more people are being subjected to slavery worldwide today than in 2016, with the private sector accounting for the majority of exploitation, per BNN Bloomberg.
Why it matters: Growing demand for cheap products has made low-cost, even slave, labour an indispensable part of the supply chain for big brands—and the allegations have piled up.
- Canada has moved to ban imports made with forced labour, but in 24 months, only one shipment has been stopped on those grounds (and it was eventually released).
- For comparison, the US intercepted over 1,300 shipments from China believed to have been made with coerced labour over the same period, per The Globe and Mail.
Why it’s happening: During the pandemic, lockdowns (and resulting job losses) dragged millions into poverty and extreme working conditions, including in high-income countries.
- Worsening climate change impacts and the war in Ukraine have pushed already vulnerable peoples into even greater uncertainty.
Zoom out: There are four bills before Parliament that would force Canadian companies to play a bigger role in policing their supply chains, of which Bill S-211 is most likely to pass.
Bill S-211 would require companies to file annual reports detailing the steps they have taken to prevent forced labour in producing and distributing goods.