Supply Chain

How to Keep Slave Labor out of Your Global Supply Chain

March 24, 2016

As forced and slave labor abuses come to light companies would be wise to have their own people on the ground checking to make sure they are doing things properly.

Adrienne Selko

While examining the risk factors of Tier 1 suppliers is important, companies must also be sure to review Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers in order to comply with the recent passage of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.

The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, which was signed in February 24, 2016 and became effective March 10, 2016, significantly strengthens the law prohibiting imports of goods produced using forced or slave labor, including child labor and subjects the goods to U.S. customs seizure and forfeiture. The law allows any interested party, including competitors and public interest groups, to petition U.S. Customs and Border Protection to investigate whether an import was produced using forced or slave labor in another country.

This act compels companies to become more knowledgeable about their supply chains. “You have to start at square one,” Mickey North Rizza BraveSolutionSpend"> Matters. Looking at global suppliers is difficult, Rizza explained, and there will most likely be information that the company was not aware of.">

Material Handling & Logistics is an IndustryWeek companion site within Penton's Manufacturing & Supply Chain Group.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.