abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb

This page is not available in Italiano and is being displayed in English

The content is also available in the following languages: English, 日本語

Story

11 Feb 2025

Taiwan: Investigations at nine textiles suppliers find evidence of forced labour & migrant worker abuse, incl. high fee-charging, linked to 40 buyers; incl. co. comments

See all tags

Shutterstock (licensed)

Following an interim report published in September 2024, NGO Transparentem has published a report into conditions for migrant workers employed by textile and textile-related suppliers in Taiwan. Findings in the report - Following the Thread - Labor abuses in Taiwan's textile industry - draw on interviews conducted with over 90 migrant workers from Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Workers reported conditions amounting to indicators of forced labour, as defined by the ILO, including being charged recruitment fees as high as USD6,000.

Transparentem identified more than 40 buyers with possible supply-chain connections to nine Taiwanese suppliers operating beyond the first tier of production; the NGO argues that "abuses beyond the first tier will only be prevented if buyers take responsibility for abuses in all suppliers to their tier one suppliers". Transparentem said many buyers who responded took "a narrower view of corporate responsibility" and argued they obligation regarding reports of abuse only extends to those workers who produce specific materials ending up in their projects.

The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) reportedly coordinated buyers and advised Transparentem additional buyers beyond those engaged with the NGO had joined remediation activities.

At the time of publication, Transparentem said there was a lack of clarity around remediation of uncovered abuses, including who would fund repayments to migrant wrokers and which workers would qualify for reimbursement.

Sequenza temporale

Privacy information

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies. You can set your privacy choices below. Changes will take effect immediately.

For more information on our use of web storage, please refer to our Data Usage and Cookies Policy

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Analytics cookie

ON
OFF

When you access our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your visit. Accepting this cookie will allow us to understand more details about your journey, and improve how we surface information. All analytics information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.

Promotional cookies

ON
OFF

We share news and updates on business and human rights through third party platforms, including social media and search engines. These cookies help us to understand the performance of these promotions.

Your privacy choices for this site

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.