Bonded Labour

The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that it would ban the import of goods from a Chinese steel manufacturer and a Chinese maker of artificial sweetener, accusing both of being involved in the use of forced labour from China's far-west region of Xinjiang. The action broadens the scope of the US effort to counter products from entering the country that the government says are tied to human rights abuses. The additions to the entity list under the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act marks the first time a China-based steel company or aspartame sweetener business have been targeted by US law enforcement, DHS said. Today's actions reaffirm our commitment to eliminating forced labour from US supply chains and upholding our values of human rights for all, said Robert Silvers, undersecretary of Homeland Security for policy. No sector is off-limits. We will continue to identify entities across industries and hold accountable those who seek to profit from exploitation and

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday told the Supreme Court it would hold discussion with stake holders and come out with a "concrete proposal" to resolve the issue of immediate financial assistance to the rescued bonded labourers. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan was hearing a petition seeking enforcement of the fundamental rights of people trafficked as bonded workers. The issue of immediate financial assistance to them cropped up during the arguments in the matter. Senior advocate H S Phoolka, appearing for one of the petitioners, said not even 10 per cent of such labourers were paid financial assistance or compensation. He said the petitioner organisation has rescued around 11,000 children but financial assistance was paid to only 719 of them. The counsel appearing for the NHRC said she can sit with the stake holders and discuss this issue. The bench told the NHRC counsel to hold talks with the petitioners and other stake holders finalise the

In its latest report, the Geneva-based International Labour Organization (ILO) said that 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021

Canada has terminated its sourcing contract with Malaysian glove maker Supermax Corp following allegations about forced labour

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday slammed the Centre for allegedly spreading misinformation about the state's farmers with its recent letter on the plight of bonded labourers.

Top Glove said an independent consultant has found there is "no longer" any indication of systemic forced labour at the world's largest medical glove maker

It said that on May 8, three complaints were filed before the NHRC alleging that 187 persons were being exploited for illegal bonded labour in the brick kilns

The labourers rescued hail from Odisha and were allegedly made to work for 12 hours per day on a salary of Rs 20, officials said