EU Forced Labor Article

EU Forced Labor Regulation: A Major Step Against Forced and Child Labor

By: QIMA Nov 21, 2024

The Council of the EU adopted the EU Forced Labor Regulation (EUFLR) on Tuesday, 19th November. This marks the last step in the legislative process. The EUFLR will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and will start to apply 3 years after the date of entry into force.

The EUFLR prohibits any products that are made, in whole or in part, using forced labor from being placed on, imported, or exported from the EU market.

Only this year, the ILO estimated that forced labor provides an annual, illegal, profit of $236 billion. With nearly 28 million individuals subjected to forced labor—86% of whom are in the private sector—this regulation adds to a growing number of laws aimed at combating forced and child labor globally.

Key elements of the new regulation

Preparing for the New Regulation

Companies now have three years to prepare for this new ban. Many may have already begun their compliance efforts due to existing laws aimed at eliminating forced labor, such as the UK Modern Slavery Act, the Canada Modern Slavery Act, the German Supply Chain Law, and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.


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