New guide to help EU companies fight forced labor

The companies play a key role in this, said Executive Vice President Dombrovskis. You could make the difference by acting responsibly. “With today’s guidelines, we are supporting EU companies in these efforts. We will strengthen our due diligence with our upcoming legislation on sustainable corporate governance. “

Commission High Representative / Vice-President Josep Borrell said: “Forced labor is not only a serious violation of human rights, it is also a major cause of poverty and an obstacle to economic development. The European Union is a world leader in responsible business conduct, business and human rights. The guide we are publishing today translates our commitment into concrete action. It will help EU companies to ensure that their activities do not contribute to forced labor practices in any sector, region or country. “

The guide explains the practical aspects of due diligence and provides an overview of the EU and international instruments for responsible business conduct that are relevant to the fight against forced labor. The EU has already introduced binding standards in some sectors and actively promotes the effective implementation of international standards for responsible business conduct.

Promoting responsible and sustainable value chains is one of the pillars of the most recent EU trade strategy. The guide contributes to the implementation of the strategy by helping companies in the EU to take the appropriate measures now and thus bridge the time until legislation on sustainable corporate governance is introduced. This upcoming legislation is intended to introduce mandatory due diligence, which obliges EU companies to identify, prevent and mitigate sustainability impacts in their operations and supply chains and to be accountable for them. Subject to the upcoming impact assessment, this will include effective measures and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that forced labor does not find a place in the value chains of EU companies.

The EU’s trade policy already contributes to the abolition of forced labor through its various instruments. The EU’s trade agreements are unique in that they contain binding commitments to ratify and effectively implement all core ILO conventions, including those on forced labor. These conventions include the obligation to prohibit the use of forced or compulsory labor in all its forms. This obligation also applies to those countries that benefit from the special regulation for sustainable development and good governance (GSP +) within the framework of the EU’s General System of Preferences (GSP). All 71 beneficiary countries of the General Scheme of Preferences are obliged not to commit any serious or systematic violations of the principles of the fundamental ILO conventions.

The guide also implements a number of the priorities of the EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 in the field of business and human rights. These priorities include the abolition of forced labor and the promotion of internationally recognized standards of due diligence.

Additional Information:

Pressemitteilung: New EU guidance helps companies to combat forced labour in supply chains

New EU trade and investment strategy

EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024

Press contact: Fabian Weber, Tel .: +49 (30) 2280-2250

The team at the ERLEBNIS EUROPA visitor center answers questions from citizens by e-mail or by telephone on (030) 2280 2900.

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