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Major Brands Linked to Forced Labour in Cotton Sector

An investigation by NGO Transparentem links labour violations – including forced and child labour – on cotton farms in India to 60 multinational apparel brands, including Adidas, Amazon, American Eagle, ASDA, Carrefour, Columbia Sportswear, Gap and others. The investigation revealed cases of debt bondage, wage violations and hazardous working conditions, including children handling pesticides.

Simultaneously, a report by the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights highlights the risks and responsibilities faced by German companies sourcing cotton from Uzbekistan. The report criticises agricultural producer Indorama Agro after the company allegedly threatened criminal charges against human rights groups monitoring the company’s alleged violations, which include land seizures, worker misclassification, suppression of union activities, and unpaid labour under threat of reprisal.

Considering the European Commission’s recent announcement of its plans to amend critical pillars of the European Green Deal—namely the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Taxonomy Regulation—which poses significant risks to corporate accountability laws, these findings are particularly alarming. Weakening these frameworks could delay progress in preventing labour exploitation and undermine the EU’s leadership in promoting ethical, sustainable and humane business practices.

LSI member Anti-Slavery International (ASI) has been vocal against labour exploitation in cotton production for many years. Anti-Slavery is also a member of the Cotton Campaign, a coalition dedicated to eradicating state-imposed forced and child labour in the cotton industries of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Since 2007, the Cotton Campaign has led efforts to hold governments and corporations accountable for unethical practices in the cotton supply chain.

You can read more about the forced labour in the cotton production industry on ASI’s website.

Read more on Business & Human Rights Resource Centre’s website.

Copyright rights: BERNARD GAGNON