(January 24, 2023) –
Canadian connections to child and forced labour continue to worsen, creating urgency for government action, according to a new report released today by aid agency World Vision Canada. The Supply Chain Risk Report 2023 reveals that the value of Canadian imports of everyday products, like electronics and clothing, that are at risk of being produced by child or forced labour, has increased to $48 billion as of 2021.
The report shows a surge in imports of risky goods of over 50% in the last ten years, including a 71% increase in electronics to $22.1 billion, a 67% increase in clothing to $10.7 billion, and more than 869% increase in imports of protective rubber gloves to more than $800 million in 2021.
World Vision Canada warns the problem is worsening due to climate change, conflict, COVID-19 and rising costs, leading to conditions that mean the number of child labourers has increased for the first time in two decades. Now, 160 million boys and girls are trapped in child labour, including 79 million who work in jobs that are dirty, dangerous and degrading.
“Progress in the global fight to end child labour is being lost. Even during a time of inflation and increasing costs at home, Canadians want to make purchases that have a positive impact on people and the planet. Clearly, we need leadership from the federal government to ensure that companies are doing everything they can to both support Canadians who wish to make informed purchasing choices and to reverse these trends in their global supply chains,” said Michael Messenger, President and CEO of World Vision Canada.
Progress for Bill S-211
The report urges Parliamentarians to pass Bill S-211, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, which is slated for its third reading in the House of Commons in March. If passed, this bill would require companies to publicly report on their efforts to prevent the use of forced labour and child labour within their global supply chains.
The law is currently proposed by Independent Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne and sponsored in the House of Commons by Liberal MP John McKay. Canada’s Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan recently committed to introducing further measures once the bill is passed. This comes as the European Union is slated to finalize their corporate sustainability due diligence directive later this year, which obligates companies to avoid and mitigate human rights risks.
“World Vision’s report highlights the urgency of passing S211. If passed Canada will leap from laggard to leader in the fight against forced labour with more initiatives to come,” said MP John McKay, sponsor of Bill S-211 in the House of Commons.
“Moving Bill S-211 through the legislative process was a team effort that benefited from the contributions of many people. Modern slavery is a complex problem rooted in global poverty, inequality and opaque supply chains. Bill S-211 won’t solve the issue on its own, but it’s an important first step, that must be followed by other actions and meaningful enforcement,” said Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne, Senate sponsor of Bill S-211.
“Bill S-211 is a key opportunity to make the people behind our purchases more visible,” said Michael Messenger, President and CEO of World Vision Canada. “It is also an important first step in Canada’s journey to do more. As our European Union trading partners are set to go farther, we need a plan from the federal government to make sure Canada’s supply chains protect the rights of children around the world.”
MEDIA RESOURCES