18 October 2021, marks the 15th EU Anti-Trafficking Day. This day is an opportunity to raise awareness on trafficking in human beings.
Do you know that the EU and EU members are actively working to prevent human trafficking?
Why is it necessary? Because forced labour is a reality… and people are recruited, exploited, enslaved and trapped in captivity without being able to escape.
On July 22, 2021, the Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains (Supply Chain Due Diligence Act) was published in the German Federal Law Gazette. The act will enter into force on January 1, 2023. The Supply Chain Due Diligence Act’s objective is to safeguard human rights and the environment in the global economy more effectively. It obligates companies with 3,000 or more employees in Germany to take “appropriate measures” to respect human rights and the environment within their supply chains “with the goal to prevent or minimize risks related to human rights or the environment or end the violation of duties related to human rights or the environment.” (Supply Chain Due Diligence Act art. 1, §§ 1, 3.)
Companies that violate the act are not civilly liable. (§ 3, para. 3.) However, companies can be fined depending on the severity of the violation. Large companies with an annual global turnover or more than 400 million euros (about US$475 million) can be required to pay fines of up to 2% of their annual global turnover. (§ 24.) Furthermore, companies that have been fined a minimum of 175,000 euros (about US$208,000) can be excluded from public procurement for up to three years. (§ 22.)
More member states shall be following their German counterpart as EU is also working on a directive concerning business and human rights.
Will you be on the right side of the movement to abolish slavery?