An increasing number of jurisdictions are passing laws that place obligations on employers that sit at the top of global supply chains to address these human rights abuses.
This summer, the European Union is expected to finalize and pass a law – albeit in a materially different form from previous versions – that will place substantial human rights obligations on global employers.
On March 15, 2024, the EU member states voted in favor of the European Supply Chain Directive (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive – CSDDD) in the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) after a long back-and-forth.
Lawmakers in South Korea have proposed a bill to address adverse impacts of business activities by mandating human rights and environmental due diligence.
The DOL issued guidance to field staff on the prohibition against the shipment of “hot goods,” found in Section 212(a) of the FLSA, and how the provision can be used as an enforcement tool for child labor violations.
The DOL issued its 2022 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report analyzing the state of child labor in 131 countries and territories, including the U.S., and outlining jurisdiction-specific recommendations to combat illegal child labor practices.
Japan is one of the first non-Western countries to adopt a legal framework on business and human rights, which will likely influence other countries in the APAC region, as well as the overall Western focus of BHR developments.
The new German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act imposes new obligations on larger companies, which must, among other things, check their entire supply chain for violations of human rights and environmental concerns.
