The proposal presented by the European Commission on 14 September 2022 seeks to ensure decent work worldwide and to address the problem of forced labour. The Commission has proposed to ban the sale of forced labour products on the EU market, without targeting specific companies or industries. It is estimated that there are 27.6 million people who are victims of forced labour worldwide.
The proposal is based on internationally agreed definitions and standards and emphasises cooperation with global partners:
- The national authorities of the Member States shall be responsible for implementing the prohibition and shall carry out investigations into products suspected of having been obtained by forced labour.
- They will also be able to request information from companies and carry out checks and inspections, including outside the EU. If the use of forced labour is confirmed, the withdrawal and prohibition of the marketing and export of the products shall be ordered.
- Member States’ customs authorities will monitor compliance at EU borders.
For its part, the implementation process will be based on a risk and proportionality assessment, taking into account the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In addition, the Commission will publish guidelines and establish the EU Forced Work Products Network to facilitate coordination and cooperation between competent authorities.
In short, the proposal aims to ensure decent work and prohibit the sale of forced labour products on the EU market, promoting international cooperation and establishing due diligence measures.