European Parliament approves ban on trade in goods resulting from forced labor

Brussels – The EU moves towards a ban on the trade of products from forced labor on the European market. During the plenary session of the European Parliament held today (April 23) in Strasbourg, the European Parliament came out mostly in favor of the proposal, with 555 votes in favor, six against, and 45 abstentions, the Plenary approved the motion.

The European Parliament voted to block all products that are the result of forced labor, whether from the internal market or from outside the EU.  Goods that exploit workers in marginal components (such as packaging) or the supply chain will also be affected. Today’s vote represents the latest step by the EU in the fight against unfair working conditions. The acceleration to ban the sale of products derived from forced labor came at the urging of the Commission, which, as early as September 2022, placed the issue as a priority.

Forced labor according to the Convention of the International Labour Organization (ILO) of 1930 is “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily.”

The rule approved by the European Parliament provides for an investigation by national authorities or the European Commission if third countries, into the suspected use of forced labor in corporate supply chains. If the investigation concludes that workers have been exploited, authorities can request that the goods in question be withdrawn from the EU market and confiscated at the border. The goods would then be donated, recycled, or destroyed. Instead, goods of strategic or critical importance to the Union can be withheld until the company eliminates forced labor from its supply chains.

The directive also provides economic penalties for companies not complying with the European directive. Another significant step in the fight against forced labor is a new portal highlighting the areas and sectors most at risk to enable Member States and the Commission to monitor goods from those areas. Parliament also stressed the importance of collaboration with non-member states to be able to stop exploitative practices of workers.

Satisfaction for Renew’s MEP, Samira Rafaela, co-rapporteur of the proposal: “With today’s vote, power shifts from exploiters to consumers and employees, offering hope to victims.” The other rapporteur, Maria-Manuel Leitão-Marques, MEP for the Socialist Group (S&D), also celebrated today’s approval, stating, “The fact that the EU finally has a law to ban forced labor products is one of the greatest successes of this term and a victory for progressive forces.”

To officially become law, the text approved today must now get the okay from the EU Council. Then, it will be published in the Official Journal, and the countries of the union will have to start implementing it within three years.

✅ Aprovámos o acordo que proíbe na UE produtos fabricados com trabalho forçado!

Vamos quebrar o modelo de negócio de empresas assente na escravatura e trabalho forçado – são ainda cerca de 27,6 milhões de pessoas vítimas de trabalho forçado em todo o mundo. pic.twitter.com/yWrj9CPolO

— Maria Manuel Leitão Marques (@LeitaoMarquesEP) April 23, 2024