In the midst of mounting concerns surrounding forced labor in China’s Uyghur Region, German automaker Volkswagen once again finds itself embroiled in controversy over its operations in the region. Recent reports suggest that forced labor may have been utilized in the construction of the company’s test track in the Uyghur Region under the joint venture with its Chinese partner SAIC.

Volkswagen ignored all the forced labor red flags

German media broke the news of evidence, including photographs, of Uyghur workers involved in coercive labor programs working on the track which was completed back in 2019. The photos were discovered by an independent researcher but apparently overlooked by auditing firm Loening GmbH which recently concluded an investigation into Volkswagen’s joint venture in the Uyghur Region and gave the company a clean bill of health.

Despite warnings from Freedom United and other advocacy groups that an audit might not yield accurate findings in a situation of state imposed forced labor, Volkswagen proceeded rather than do what the global community has been asking of all companies: cut ties with the Uyghur Region.

This new finding not only casts doubt on the credibility of the audit’s conclusions, but also raises broader questions about the company’s stance on forced labor.

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