The European Parliament approved on Thursday decision to ban products made with forced labor, such as those occurring in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, according to various reports.
With by 503 votes in favour, 6 against and 4 abstentions, The European Parliament amendment aims to establish prohibition criteria, international cooperation and dialogue with companies to inspect and control the origin of products.
In the approved text, lawmakers ask: Tools for cooperation with countries outside the EU and for seizure by public authorities at European borders, as long as there is proof.
“The EU needs to do more to systematically fight back. bad practice of forced laborBernd Lange, chairman of the International Trade Committee, said, “It must do this in alliance with other countries. There can be no room for exploitative goods or transport” in the EU, he said.
“With today’s vote, Parliament has set the principles necessary for the prohibition of such inhumane practices: Now is the time for the Commission to fulfill it,” he said. The European Parliament therefore create the tools necessary to regulate forced labor, such as advocacy for aid SMEs to deal with the new rules and assist importers by creating a public list of sanctioned companies, regions and manufacturers.
Concerning the creation of regulations, Members of Parliament should consider the elements of the International Labor Organization (ILO) abuse of vulnerability, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents and debt bondage. During today’s debate, the European Parliament referred to the latest documents emerging about a type of forced labor called re-education camps for Uighurs in China’s Xinjiang province, which some lawmakers refer to as “21st century slavery”.
Spanish MP Inma Rodriguez Piñedohighlighted the 25 million people in forced labor, He added that “where the majority are women, girls and boys, displaced populations and the most vulnerable groups in society”, Europe must take action to prevent some countries from basing their development on the slave labor of their citizens. The United States and Canada have already banned forced labor on some imports.
Source: Informacion
