Forced Labour

California Assembly Advances AB 2599 on Slavery-Related Corporate Disclosures to Third Reading

In May 2026, the California Assembly advanced AB 2599, a bill that would require large companies doing business in the state to disclose historical involvement in slavery and link compliance with these disclosures to eligibility for significant state contracts. If enacted, this measure would create a public registry of slavery-related corporate records, introduce new affidavit and certification obligations for large multinationals operating in California, and materially raise human rights and supply chain transparency expectations in state-level procurement.

20 May 2026, 17:59leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

Pakistan Amends Import Policy Order to Prohibit Imports of Forced-Labour Goods From Notified Countries

Pakistan has issued S.R.O. 704(I)/2026, dated 28 April 2026, amending its Import Policy Order 2022 to prohibit imports of goods produced with forced labour from goods, entities and countries that the government will notify based on International Labour Organization determinations. Importers sourcing from higher-risk origins will face new evidence and certification requirements to prove goods are not made with forced labour, making supply chain due diligence and documentation on labour practices increasingly critical for continued market access.

15 May 2026, 13:39commerce.gov.pkPakistan

Council of Europe GRETA Publishes Fourth Evaluation of UK Anti-Trafficking Measures

On 5 May 2026 the Council of Europe’s GRETA body published its fourth evaluation of how the UK is implementing the anti-trafficking convention, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities for migrant workers, asylum seekers, children and other at-risk groups. The report increases pressure for the UK to tighten labour enforcement and immigration safeguards, strengthen Modern Slavery Act supply-chain transparency and victim protections, and raises expectations on corporate human-rights due diligence in high-risk sectors.

11 May 2026, 11:56rm.coe.intUnited Kingdom

US House Bill Proposes Annual List of China-Origin Mining Entities Linked to Forced Labor and Environmental Harm in Africa

US lawmakers have introduced H.R. 8621 to require the Secretary of State to compile an annual list of China-origin mining entities in certain African countries linked to forced labour or significant environmental harm. If enacted, an official list of high-risk mining entities could heighten supply-chain due diligence expectations and influence financing, procurement, and risk management decisions for companies connected to affected African projects.

6 May 2026, 19:34congress.govUnited States

US Senate Introduces S.4473 to List PRC-Origin Mining Entities Linked to Forced Labor and Environmental Harm in Africa

In April 2026, a bipartisan US Senate bill (S.4473) was introduced to require the State Department to publish an annual list of People’s Republic of China–origin mining entities in African countries linked to forced labour or significant environmental harm. If enacted, this would create a government-backed risk list that could reshape how companies, investors and lenders screen counterparties in Africa-related mining and critical minerals supply chains.

6 May 2026, 19:32congress.govUnited States

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 349 (PN 0286) Proposes Decommissioning and Financial Assurance Requirements for Solar Energy Facilities

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 349 would create statewide decommissioning, financial assurance, and forced-labour compliance requirements for larger solar energy facilities, following renewed Senate consideration in April 2026. If enacted, solar developers, asset owners, and landowners in Pennsylvania would face long-term bonding and land restoration obligations, tighter supply chain scrutiny for solar equipment, and pre-emption of conflicting local decommissioning rules, materially affecting project economics and siting strategy.

4 May 2026, 20:03legis.state.pa.usUnited States

European Parliament Resolution on Protecting EU Companies From Unfair Non-EU Competition

In April 2026 the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution urging the European Commission and Member States to crack down on unfair competition from non-EU imports and e-commerce platforms through tougher customs controls, stronger market surveillance, rapid rollout of digital product passports, and more active use of trade-defence tools. Although it creates no immediate legal obligations, it signals political pressure for faster secondary legislation and enforcement, especially for high-risk consumer products such as textiles, footwear, children’s goods, cosmetics and electronics, which could tighten market access conditions for non-compliant imports and platforms.

4 May 2026, 18:26europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Italy Ratifies ILO Forced Labour Protocol (Law 10 April 2026, No. 60)

Italy has ratified the ILO Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), through Law 10 April 2026 No. 60, published on 29 April 2026 and in force from 30 April 2026. This consolidates Italy’s alignment with international forced-labour standards and signals potential future criminal, labour, and supply-chain due diligence measures, even though the ratification law itself does not yet impose new reporting obligations directly on companies.

30 Apr 2026, 06:52gazzettaufficiale.itItaly

EU Commission Adopts Implementing Regulation on Information System for Forced Labour Products Regulation

In April 2026 the European Commission adopted an implementing regulation that sets the detailed technical and procedural rules for the EU information system underpinning enforcement of the Forced Labour Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3015. This locks in a central digital backbone for forced-labour investigations and customs controls, signalling more structured data requirements, closer cross-border coordination, and stronger enforcement once the core prohibition starts applying from late 2027.

29 Apr 2026, 09:11eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

California Assembly Amends AB 2653 to Create AI Labour and Procurement Working Group

In April 2026 the California Assembly rewrote AB 2653 so it no longer immediately extends “sweatfree” procurement rules to AI contracts, but instead creates a working group to study labour practices in foundation models and report back by the end of 2027. This amendment materially softens short-term compliance risk for AI vendors to the state while signalling a slower, consultative path toward future labour, human-rights, and procurement standards for modern AI systems.

28 Apr 2026, 16:27leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

EU Commission Outlines Implementing Act on Forced-Labour Decisions and Customs Risk Management

The European Commission has published an information notice on an implementing act that will define the content of forced-labour decisions and support their automated transmission into EU customs risk-management systems. This technical measure will underpin enforcement of the EU’s forthcoming forced-labour rules by ensuring decisions taken by competent authorities can be quickly integrated into border risk controls across the Single Market.

22 Apr 2026, 19:50ec.europa.euEuropean Union

California AB 2599 Would Require Large Companies To File Slavery-Era Disclosure Affidavits

California’s AB 2599 would require large companies doing business in the state to file sworn affidavits disclosing any historical involvement in slavery-related transactions and to certify compliance when bidding for significant state contracts. If enacted, this will deepen ESG and human-rights due diligence expectations, forcing multinationals to mine archival records, confront reputational risk, and prepare for permanent public disclosure of any slavery-linked financial ties.

22 Apr 2026, 13:59leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

Brazil Labour Court Orders BYD Removed From Slave-Labour "Dirty List"

In April 2026, Brazil’s Regional Labour Court for the 10th Region ordered BYD to be removed from the federal dirty list of employers accused of subjecting workers to slavery-like conditions, shortly after the company’s addition for abuses at a Camaçari plant construction site. This rapid inclusion and court-ordered removal underscores ongoing forced-labour and migration-risk scrutiny of major automotive suppliers and shows how Brazil’s slave-labour list and legal challenges can quickly reshape a company’s ESG risk profile and access to public and private finance.

19 Apr 2026, 16:53contextoexato.com.brBrazil

California Assembly Committee Advances AB 2653 ‘Sweatfree AI’ Code of Conduct Bill for State AI Contracts

California lawmakers are advancing AB 2653, a bill that would extend the state’s existing sweatfree procurement rules to AI products that rely on data-enrichment work and require the Department of Industrial Relations to create a binding Sweatfree AI Code of Conduct by 1 July 2027. If adopted, this would impose living-wage, labour-standard, transparency, and independent-monitoring obligations on vendors providing AI tools and data-enrichment services to California agencies, materially raising ESG due diligence expectations across AI supply chains.

16 Apr 2026, 16:11leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) Responds To EU Forced Labour Guidelines Consultation

FESI has submitted a detailed position paper on the European Commission’s draft guidelines for implementing the EU forced labour rules, highlighting how investigations and evidence requirements should work for complex global supply chains. If the Commission reflects these recommendations, manufacturers and importers could see more predictable, harmonised expectations on risk screening, documentation, and remediation, directly shaping how they design due diligence, traceability, and response processes under the forced labour regime and CSDDD.

14 Apr 2026, 12:04fesi-sport.orgEuropean Union

Brazil Updates Slave Labour 'Dirty List' With 169 New Employers

Brazil updated its slave labor register in April 2026, adding 169 employers to a public list that now subjects over 600 entities to enforcement scrutiny. This expansion increases counterparty risk and necessitates rigorous supply chain due diligence to mitigate legal and reputational exposure for businesses operating in the region.

10 Apr 2026, 13:17g1.globo.comBrazil

Netherlands Issues 2025 Progress Letter on National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights

The Netherlands has advanced its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, integrating EU CSDDD and Forced Labour Regulation requirements into national policy and procurement. Businesses must anticipate heightened due diligence scrutiny to maintain eligibility for public contracts and government support, particularly regarding high-risk imports and conflict-zone operations.

4 Apr 2026, 11:51open.overheid.nlNetherlands

South Africa Labour Department And Parliamentary Committee Expose Labour And Immigration Violations In Newcastle Textile Factories

South African authorities conducted a multi-agency enforcement blitz in February 2026, uncovering systemic labor, safety, and immigration violations across textile manufacturing sites. This intensified enforcement signals heightened supply chain scrutiny for retailers, requiring urgent human rights due diligence and supplier oversight to mitigate legal and reputational risks.

4 Apr 2026, 10:56labour.gov.zaSouth Africa

China MOFCOM Launches Two Trade Barrier Investigations Into US Supply-Chain And Green-Product Measures

China launched trade-barrier investigations into US supply chain and green-product measures in March 2026. This escalation signals potential retaliatory countermeasures that could disrupt high-tech trade, green energy investments, and global supply chain stability.

31 Mar 2026, 21:29mofcom.gov.cnChinaUnited States

Egypt Labour Ministry Issues Decree Banning Employment of Children Under 15 and Tightening Hazardous Work Rules

Egypt has enacted Ministerial Decree No. 50/2026 to ban child labor under 15 and strictly regulate hazardous work for minors. Organizations must urgently review recruitment and supply chain due diligence in the region to address heightened legal and ESG exposure related to labor rights.

31 Mar 2026, 19:47english.ahram.org.egEgypt