• Twenty of the world’s leading consumer goods companies take collective action to address the challenge of forced labour in their supply chains
• In line with international agreements, Coalition members have developed a framework for deploying forced labour-focused Human Rights Due Diligence systems in their operations to identify, remedy and prevent forced labour risks and impacts
• Members to activate pre-competitive practices collectively support responsible recruitment markets, and to work specifically with palm oil suppliers to eradicate forced labour in the sector

PARIS, 10 December 2020 – Today, on annual Human Rights Day, 20 leading members of The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) announce their collective stance against forced labour with the creation of the CGF’s new Human Rights Coalition – Working to End Forced Labour, a CEO-led initiative driving collaborative action and accelerated change. Building on the CGF’s five years of experience addressing the endemic problem of forced labour in the consumer goods industry, this new Coalition of manufacturers and retailers has committed to actions that, in line with international agreements and legislation, will help to fight against forced labour in the industry.

While there are numerous human rights risks to labourers worldwide, forced labour is one of the most salient, often being one of the most severe human rights abuses that leads to the infringement of other rights. With more than 25 million people experiencing some form of forced labour worldwide, including 16 million working in the private sector, it is a rife social problem that the CGF’s Human Rights Coalition is firmly committed to fighting. The Coalition is sponsored at the CGF Board level by Emmanuel Faber, Chairman and CEO of Danone, and Olaf Koch, CEO of METRO AG. It is co-chaired at the Steering Committee level by METRO AG.

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