The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) released the latest update to its List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. This document, which now includes 204 goods across 82 countries, highlights a significant gap in similar reporting among G7 nations, all of whom claim commitment to eradicating child and forced labor yet do not publish equivalent lists.
Produced by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), the USDOL’s list identifies goods likely produced under exploitative conditions, as mandated by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2005 and subsequent amendments. The list is not comprehensive but includes goods commonly found in daily life, such as coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, and fruit. Coffee, for instance, is often produced under exploitative conditions in countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Kenya. Similarly, tea, cocoa, and sugar sourced from various countries are linked to labor abuses.
Apparel items like cotton, silk, and leather—used even by luxury brands—are often sourced from regions where child and forced labor are common. According to the USDOL list, cotton has been linked to exploitative labor in 17 countries, including India, Egypt, and China, while leather production faces similar issues in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Luxury goods, such as gold and diamonds, also appear on the list, with gold production in 28 countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Venezuela, facing scrutiny.
Many high-tech items, including smartphones, laptops, and cars, are produced with raw materials sourced under similarly exploitative conditions. This raises pressing questions for G7 nations, the EU, and others committed to eradicating forced labor. Given the widespread exploitation within their supply chains, when will they commit to publishing official lists of goods produced by child or forced labor, aligning transparency with their pledges?
