Fears over importation of 'forced labour' goods

BRITAIN risks being a “dumping ground” for goods linked to forced labour in countries like China unless the Government reforms its anti-slavery laws, Parliament’s human rights watchdog has warned.

- NINA LLOYD

BRITAIN risks being a “dumping ground” for goods linked to forced labour in countries like China unless the Government reforms its antislavery laws, Parliament’s human rights watchdog has warned.

Existing rules are failing to prevent products flown from Xinjiang, where Beijing is accused of employing Uighur Muslim people against their will, ending up on UK shelves, according to anew report.

In the 99-page document, MPs and peers on the influential Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) called on ministers to impose import bans on goods linked to forced labour.

Mandatory human rights due diligence for UK firms and penalties for flouting the requirements should also be introduced, the cross-party group said. This would establish a legal duty for businesses to manage any risk of human rights abuse in their operations, such as by requiring suppliers to fulfil certain conditions, rather than the existing “voluntary” approach.