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AIM supports EU legal framework to eradicate forced labour from global supply chains

AIM strongly supports the European Commission’s ambition to eradicate forced labour from global supply chains. AIM and its members firmly believe that forced labour is an unacceptable practice and are committed to addressing forced labour risks in their operations and across their business relationships. We also acknowledge the calls made by both the Council of the EU and the European Parliament to step up action at EU level to address the issue of forced labour.

Many of our member companies are leading on responsible sourcing practices, seeking to minimise environmental impacts and ensure respect of human rights across their supply chains. From experience gained through our global collaborative sourcing initiative AIM-Progress, it has become clear that supply chain due diligence, coupled with capability building and remedy approaches jointly with local suppliers, rights-holders, public authorities and other stakeholders in risk-prone sourcing regions, are key to ensuring continuous improvement and sustainable supply of relevant commodities in a global trading environment.

Beyond banning products on the EU market, the proposed EU Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market must primarily promote improving working conditions and yielding positive outcomes for individuals and communities at risk of forced labour. AIM outlines a number of recommendations for consideration in its detailed commentary of the proposed Regulation (see below), with the intention of strengthening the European Commission’s proposal to achieve the stated objectives.

READ AIM COMMENTARY ON PROPOSED FORCED LABOUR REGULATION HERE