China: Significant proportion of global solar value chain vulnerable to alleged forced labour in Uyghur Region, says major study
Major report gathered evidence - largely drawn from government and corporate sources – revealing that labour transfers are deployed in the Uyghur Region of China within an environment of 'unprecedented coercion, undergirded by the constant threat of re-education and internment'. The study examined how this alleged forced labour regime affects the global solar energy industry – and revealed how it pervades an entire supply chain, reaching deep into international markets. The study concluded that solar industry is particularly vulnerable to forced labour in the Uyghur Region because 95% of solar modules rely on one primary material – solar-grade polysilicon, and because polysilicon manufacturers in the Uyghur Region account for approximately 45% of the world’s solar-grade polysilicon supply. The authors of the report reached out to all companies mentioned for comment, prior to publication. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre then invited selected Chinese, EU, UK and US-headquartered companies along the value chain to respond - responses are linked below.