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We are writing on behalf of the 33 undersigned civil society organisations and trade unions to outline key issues that should be considered during the upcoming trilogues in order to make the proposed EU Forced Labour Regulation (FLR) a success.
Remediation: The EU FLR should be worker-centred and include remediation for workers who have experienced forced labour. [...]
State-imposed forced labour: State-imposed forced labour should be treated differently from other kinds of forced labour. The Commission’s proposal did not outline any explicit investigative or enforcement measures to address cases of state-imposed forced labour, making it impractical and difficult to investigate and address efficiently such cases at scale. [...]
Access to Single-window EU-wide complaints mechanism: The Council and the Parliament have put forward a single-window EU wide complaints mechanism. A single-window mechanism is preferable to the decentralised and fragmented version put forward in the Commission’s proposal. [...]
Transparency and the Right to Equal and Informed Participation by Victims/Complainants: The regulation should strike a better balance between commercial confidentiality, due process for companies under investigation, the right to information of complainants, the need to safeguard the victims and survivors from retaliation and public interest. [...]
An evidentiary regime adapted to forced labour: Both the European Commission and European Parliament have proposed a high level of evidence to even initiate an investigation (substantiated concern or well-founded reason). The level of proof to initiate an investigation should be lowered as proposed by the Council definition of “substantiated concern” to take into consideration the evidentiary struggles experienced by victims of forced labour who do not have access to all relevant documentation and evidence that may be required during the proceedings. [...]
We thank you for your consideration of these important matters and stand ready to discuss the proposed EU Forced Labour Regulation and the concerns raised in this letter. [...]
Lawmakers in the EU today voted in favour of a far-reaching law to ban products made with forced labour from the single market – a move welcomed by workers around the world (press release by Anti-Slavery International).
The European Parliament has given its final approval to a new regulation enabling the EU to prohibit the sale, import, and export of goods made using forced labour (EP press release).
The preliminary endorsement by member states of the Forced Labour Regulation ramps up pressure on wavering countries to also endorse CSDDD on Friday, reducing the political room to justify continued resistance to the law.
The undersigned Civil Society Organisations and Trade Unions call on the governments of EU Member States to support the agreed text, ensuring the legislation enters into force without delay.
The Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional deal on the regulation prohibiting in the EU market products made with forced labour.
Including remediation and other appropriate measures in the EU Forced Labour Regulation would enhance the legislation’s effectiveness in eradicating forced labour from supply chains, the statement says.
A letter, on behalf 33 civil society organisations and trade unions, to outline key issues that should be considered during the upcoming trilogues in order to make the proposed EU Forced Labour Regulation (FLR) a success.
On 26 January, the Council has adopted its position (negotiating mandate) on the regulation prohibiting products made with forced labour on the EU market.
This letter outlines four core elements that must be included: an evidentiary regime adapted to forced labour, provisions on state-imposed forced labour, one-stop shop EU-wide complaints mechanism, remediation.
This paper analyses the plans of the European Union for a forced labour ban that would prohibit the placing of products made with forced labour on the common market as well as the export of such products. It addresses concerns and provides recommendations for effective legislation following a human rights-based approach.
This week, the Internal Market and International Trade committees adopted their position on keeping products made using forced labour out of the EU market, IMCO, INTA.
As the negotiations on the content of the legislation advance, the undersigned Civil Society Organisations, Coalitions and Trade Unions, put forward key elements to make the proposed regulation efficient, implementable and impactful
Members of the European Parliament are proposing to extend the scope of a draft EU regulation prohibiting forced labour products from the EU market to key services and to introduce remediation for victims.
17 EU and international civil society organisations have written to the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council calling for swift progress towards a Forced Labour Regulation which provides remediation to workers who have experienced forced labour.
Investors shared a letter they submitted to the EU Commission and EU Parliament charged with the development of the EU’s Proposed Forced Labor Product Ban
Anti-Slavery International, the European Center for Constitutional Human Rights (ECCHR) and the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament commissioned research into a proposal on how an EU import ban should be designed to meaningfully address forced labour and keep workers at its heart
The statement calls on the European Parliament and EU Member States to improve the proposal where it is missing its purpose, whilst building on its key positive elements.
Though the proposal was broadly welcomed by both labor rights organizations and businesses, critics point to deficiencies — which might cut into its effectiveness.
EU lawmakers in the Parliament had called for such an instrument in June 2022, the Commission first announced plans for a new legislative instrument in February 2022.
On 9 June 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for an import ban on products produced with forced labour from entering the EU market. The Parliament's recommendations, intended to feed into the EU Commission's ongoing drafting of new EU rules on products created or transported by forced labour, have been welcomed by civil society. However, the future instrument must put victims first and be remedy-centered, says the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ).
The EU announces plans to promote decent work, and to prepare a new legislative instrument to ban products made by forced labour from entering the EU market
During the annual State of the EU speech, Ursula von der Leyen announced the block's intention to introduce a ban on the import of products made with forced labour
The Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) published a guidance document on due diligence to help EU companies to address the risk of forced labour in their operations
Consideration of import controls on forced labour products coincides with the forthcoming European Commission legislative proposal on Sustainable Corporate Governance. CSOs highlight key considerations relevant to the development and functioning of these two parallel policy processes.
Anti-Slavery International and European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights’ position on import controls to address forced labour in supply chains
New report commissioned by the European Parliament analyses EU options for introducing an import ban on products related to severe human rights violations