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Statement

Justice For All Canada Calls for Strong Implementation of Forced Labor Laws Following Canada’s 2023 Budget Announcement​

March 29th, 2023 

Justice For All Canada applauds a landmark federal measure banning forced labour products from entering Canadian supply chains. Canada’s 2023 budgetary commitment to protecting Uyghurs follows the longstanding efforts of Uyghur activists, who persuaded parliamentary groups to advance policy recommendations since 2018. Under our Save Uyghur campaign, Justice For All Canada has also continued to promote human rights groups pushing for more robust measures against Uyghur forced labour.

“This legislation is the first concrete step towards strengthening Canada’s ability to combat the Uyghur genocide by ensuring products entering the country are produced in compliance with international human rights standards,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director. “However, it remains to be seen how effective the implementation of this legislation will be in practice,” added Ghayyur.

Particularly in the cotton industry, Uyghur Muslims have been forcibly transferred to work in labour camps under brutal conditions. Over 1 million Uyghurs are detained in re-education camps, forced to learn Mandarin, renounce their Islamic faith and cultural Uyghur practices, and work in fields and factories.

Until the 2023 budget release, Canada has taken several weak measures to prevent forced labour good entry into the country, especially compared to the United States. In 2019, the Canadian government amended the Customs Tariff Act to prohibit the importation of goods tainted by forced labour. Guidance was also given to Canadian businesses on how to conduct supply chains free of forced labour.

But despite these measures, there has been no strong implementation or disciplinary actions for Canadian companies complicit in Uyghur forced labour. The government merely encouraged companies to identify and assess potential risks in their supply chains. Companies were expected to mitigate forced labour risks themselves—without any mandatory mechanism for transparency.

Sanctioning Perpetrators of Forced Labour 

Justice For All Canada urges the federal government to implement its proposed forced labour laws in line with the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans all imports from Xinjiang (East Turkestan) unless proven otherwise.

With the unveiling of the 2023 Budget, Justice For All Canada also demands the Canadian government take a firm stance on the issue of Uyghur forced labour and work with international partners to hold Chinese communist authorities accountable for labour-related human rights abuses.

Implementing Next Steps and Recommendations 

Canadians can share the recommendations below with their local MP, requesting them to participate in ensuring effective implementation of 2024 forced labour legislation in Canada. Otherwise, difficulties will remain when verifying the origin of goods and involvement of forced labour in their production.

  1. Solid and Clear Language: Demand the legislation include strong and unambiguous language that prohibits the importation of goods produced using forced labour coming from Xinjiang province. The language should clearly define forced labour and include penalties for violations.
  2. Practical Monitoring: Demand the government establish an effective monitoring system to ensure Canadian companies comply with the legislation. This system should include regular inspections of supply chains and penalties for non-compliance.
  3. Transparency: Urge the government to demand transparency from Canadian companies about their supply chains and for them to conduct human rights due diligence to identify and mitigate forced labour risks in their supply chains.
  4. Collaboration with Civil Society: Demand the government collaborates with civil society organizations to develop and implement effective strategies for eradicating forced labour from Canadian supply chains.
  5. Public Reporting: Companies must publicly report their efforts to prevent forced labour in their supply chains. This will help ensure transparency and accountability.
  6. Support for Affected Workers: Finally, demand the government provides support and assistance to Uyghur workers affected by forced labour, such as access to legal remedies and support for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Justice for All Canada
100-4310 Sherwoodtowne Boulevard,
Mississauga, Ontario, L4Z 4C4​
​[email protected]

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