A report released by ETI Sweden, in collaboration with four Swedish Public Transport Authorities, highlights significant risks of human rights violations, including state-imposed forced labour, in the manufacturing of trains and trams in China...

Rail-bound transport plays a crucial role in the green transition in Sweden. The increasing demand for public transport implies a growing need for investments in new and more efficient trains and trams. The supply chains and ownership structures within the global manufacturing of trains and trams are complex. China has emerged as a major manufacturing country...

The research has been conducted by not-for-profit analytic company Globalworks by analysing social media posts and official documents, websites, and news sources. The report reveals alarming patterns of systematic and widespread risk of state-imposed forced labour, affecting not only Uighur populations in Xinjiang but also other ethnic minorities, impoverished households, and vulnerable groups such as underage interns. The findings emphasize the urgent need for collective action to address and manage human rights risks...

Public Transport Authorities, companies, and stakeholders are encouraged to explore innovative approaches to identify, monitor, and mitigate these risks, driving meaningful change within the production of trains and trams.