The UN Special Rapporteurs on contemporary forms of slavery and on trafficking in persons, together with the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, issued a statement welcoming the EU Forced Labour Regulation as an important milestone, while stressing that further clarification and strengthening are still needed.
They call for practical guidance on conducting human rights due diligence related to forced labour, based on a human rights-centred and risk-based approach, and express concerns about the proposed “Omnibus Simplification Package.” The experts emphasise that EU legislation should encourage responsible disengagement and ensure access to effective remedy for all affected workers. They also underline the need for better data collection and transparency; clear evidentiary standards and procedural rules; and possible use of rebuttable presumptions, noting that the concepts of “substantiated concern” and “credible source” require further definition.
The statement further highlights the importance of ensuring the right expertise within EU enforcement structures, including investigators trained in trauma-informed and victim-centred approaches, as well as meaningful and broad stakeholder participation throughout forced labour investigations and related processes. Finally, the UN experts call for greater clarity on context-specific approaches to responsible disengagement in situations involving state-imposed forced labour.
Human Rights Due Diligence for State-Imposed Forced Labour
Anti-Slavery International has released a new briefing on conducting human rights due diligence in relation to state-imposed forced labour, co-authored with La Strada International and several partner organisations. The document aims to inform the European Commission’s forthcoming guidance under Article 11(f) of the EU Forced Labour Regulation, which requires specific due diligence expectations when forced labour is carried out by state authorities.
The briefing outlines how state-imposed forced labour differs fundamentally from abuses committed by private actors, why traditional due diligence tools are often ineffective in such contexts, and what responsible disengagement should look like. It also provides examples of high-risk sectors and supply chains, as well as practical recommendations for companies to identify exposure and avoid complicity.
Picture: © Copyright United Nations