Categories
This report traces apparel supply chains from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China to the European Union and finds evidence that products made through state-imposed forced labor programs in the region are entering the EU marketplace without restriction. By examining four major China-based fabric and clothing manufacturers with ties to the region, the research identifies how these companies engage in and benefit from transferring Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities for work, often separating them from their families and communities. Following the supply chains, the report determines a substantial number of well-known European brands are at risk of sourcing from these manufacturers. With forced labor becoming increasingly hidden, the research concludes EU policy lacks protections for consumers from unwittingly purchasing goods linked to human rights abuses against Uyghurs.
