A closer look at the countries and products most at risk. I am happy to share the new report by Human Rights at Work and CORE – The Human Side of Business which identifies global hotspots for forced labour: countries where it is most prevalent and product categories most at risk. Identifying these is a critical step in implementing the EU Forced Labor Regulation (hashtag#EUFLR). Commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the report provides a foundation for policymakers and authorities responsible for enforcing the forced labour ban under the EUFLR and recommendations for businesses to meet EUFLR requirements.

𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲

While the research was conducted in relation to goods imported to the Netherlands, the findings are relevant for all businesses. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:

• Very high-risk product categories: Textiles, apparel and clothing, footwear and furniture.
• High-risk product categories: Articles made of iron, steel and other metals and agricultural products.
• 44 countries are identified as high or very high risk for forced labor, largely due to significant prevalence of modern slavery–exacerbated by state-imposed forced labor policies in some of the countries.
•  Forced labor risks depend on multiple factors including origin country, raw materials sourced and vulnerable workforces involved.
• Forced labor can occur everywhere, even in low or medium-risk countries, including in the Netherlands.

We recommend that the findings of this research be followed by stakeholder engagement to validate findings—ensuring a robust, inclusive approach to tackling forced labor risks in goods imported to the Netherlands. For questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.