Taiwan: Investigations at nine textiles suppliers find evidence of forced labour & migrant worker abuse, incl. high fee-charging, linked to 40 buyers; incl. co. comments
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Following an interim report published in September 2024, NGO Transparentem has published a report into conditions for migrant workers employed by textile and textile-related suppliers in Taiwan. Findings in the report - Following the Thread - Labor abuses in Taiwan's textile industry - draw on interviews conducted with over 90 migrant workers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Workers reported conditions amounting to indicators of forced labour, as defined by the ILO, including being charged recruitment fees as high as USD6,000.
Transparentem identified more than 40 buyers with possible supply-chain connections to nine Taiwanese suppliers operating beyond the first tier of production; the NGO argues that "abuses beyond the first tier will only be prevented if buyers take responsibility for abuses in all suppliers to their tier one suppliers". Transparentem said many buyers who responded took "a narrower view of corporate responsibility" and argued they obligation regarding reports of abuse only extends to those workers who produce specific materials ending up in their projects.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) reportedly coordinated buyers and advised Transparentem additional buyers beyond those engaged with the NGO had joined remediation activities.
At the time of publication, Transparentem said there was a lack of clarity around remediation of uncovered abuses, including who would fund repayments to migrant wrokers and which workers would qualify for reimbursement.