A staggering $34 billion dollars’ worth of goods is imported into Canada that is at high risk of using child labour or modern slavery.
There are an estimated 168 million child labourers worldwide and right now most companies in Canada are disclosing very little, if any, information on how they are addressing these risks.
For Canada to better address our connection to child labour and modern slavery, three steps needs to be taken:
- A group of MPs studies how child labour and modern slavery is finding its way into Canadian goods, and our response.
- MPs recommend a law requiring Canadian companies to provide annual reports on how child labour or modern slavery is being addressed.
- Government passes legislation requiring companies to share reports with consumers so they can make ethical purchasing decisions.
Step one is already in the works! In the fall of 2017, the Government of Canada’s Subcommittee on International Human Rights has agreed to study this issue. We now have a key window to influence the committee chair, MP Michael Levitt, and members.
Urge the Subcommittee on International Human Rights to follow through on their child labour study and recommend legislation requiring large companies in Canada to publicly report on their efforts to address child labour in their global supply chains.
