A report published on December 6 commissioned by a group of E.U. lawmakers warns that “a substantial volume of apparel tainted by Uyghur forced labor is moving into the E.U. without restriction.” The report indicates how E.U. policy does not do enough to weed out forced labor from large supply chains and, therefore, does not protect consumers from buying products made with Uyghur forced labor, according to The Guardian.

Implication by state-sponsored labor transfers

Well-known brands have been identified as being at high risk of sourcing materials, specifically cotton and PVC, made by Uyghurs coerced into forced labor through state-imposed labor transfers. According to the report,

“39 well-known brands are identified to be high risk of sourcing apparel made by Uyghurs compelled to participate in state-imposed forced labor transfers.”

State-sponsored labor transfer programs are lesser known than the Uyghur detention camps, where there have been widespread reports of human rights abuses. People are transferred to farms or factories in different locations where there is a need for workers, including people from Xinjiang, the Uyghur region, to other parts of China.

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