Anti-Slavery International, discusses emerging EU legislation and explores what it could mean for workers worldwide, including agricultural workers in southern Spain.

September 2024
Earlier in 2024, the EU made history by approving two pieces of legislation that could have a tremendous impact on the lives of an estimated 21 million people in forced labour worldwide.

The laws will put a responsibility on businesses to address, mitigate and remediate forced labour in their value chains, or otherwise face what could be very serious financial consequences. With these laws, workers around the world will have improved routes to justice for the human rights abuses they experience. Many will benefit from mandated business practice changes from the top to bottom of the supply chain they work within. Their concerns will, according to the legislation, have to be considered and addressed.

As the EU is the world’s largest trading bloc, the laws will set a global precedent. The UK, however, continues to lag behind progress that could meaningfully improve the lives of the people who make the products we use every day.

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