Canadian firms are finding reasons to be concerned after a private member’s bill forced them to go looking for forced labour in their supply chains and release the results publicly, reports the National Post.
In Spring 2023, Liberal MP John McKay’s private member’s bill, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, passed through the House of Commons. The bill requires companies over a certain size to report publicly on where they believe there is a risk of forced labour in their supply chains and what they are doing about it.
Companies across the country have started filing those statements and acknowledging there are risks they need to better investigate.
Forced labour in supply chains is often hidden deep in a company’s products, where specific components or materials that go into the finished products are made using forced labour. In other cases, companies outsource their labour to other firms or deduct fees or force overtime on workers.
Migrant workers ofte have to pay recruitment fees or travel costs for jobs that become a debt that is then garnished from their wages, the article notes.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance has been pointing out for years that companies engaged in illegal operations such as labour abuse, tax avoidance, safey and environmental non-compliance is often a symptom of a larger, systemic problem in the trucking industry and supply chain.
CTA recently addressed the Supply Chain Canada Conference, warning attendees that on how forced labour and labour abuse in the domestic trucking industry is growing and how these activities need attention by supply chain participants.
Know that if you are employing a transportation provider who defies Canada’s basic labour rights, you may be exposed to many of the violations and unscrupulous behaviour you as companies are trying to protect workers from as part of your corporate and social goals,” said CTA president Laskowski.