Fairtrade Canada statement on ending child and forced labour in supply chains
Fairtrade Canada applauds today’s call to end exploitative child labour published by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. The report entitled, “A Call to Action: Ending the Use of All Forms of Child Labour in Supply Chains,” offers concrete, actionable recommendations, including legislative action, to work towards the eradication of child and forced labour in supply chains... “The Canadian Government has the opportunity to become a world leader by creating a model Modern Slavery Act. Given the scope and scale of the problem, no country can turn a blind eye to the realities of modern slavery,” says Julie Francoeur, Executive Director at Fairtrade Canada. “The Government must commit to taking bold and immediate action to address child and forced labour in supply chains.”... To ensure concrete, enforceable actions, this task force should include civil society, trade union, investor, private sector and government representatives operating with clear timelines and deliverables, to advise on the options for and details of supply chain legislation and regulations... The Government of Canada has a moral and ethical obligation to use the recommendations in this report to not ONLY address child and forced labour in Canadian supply chains, but also contribute to the eradication of modern slavery worldwide.