This week, trade unions and NGOs sent a joint letter to EU Member States demanding them to urgently speed up their negotiations and adopt a General Approach on the proposed EU Forced Labour Regulation. With the European Parliament’s two leading committees adopting their position back on 16 October, the next steps in EU negotiations are blocked until the European Council publishes their general approach.

Judith Kirton-Darling, Acting Joint General Secretary of industriAll Europe says:

‘’We need to end forced labour now, and we call on EU Member States to come forward with their position as soon as possible. Today, millions of workers across the globe are subjected to forced labour and we need strong EU legislation that punishes abusive employers, as well as protecting and remediating workers. Time is ticking ahead of the EU elections, and European trade unions call on the EU Council to prioritise this file which could improve the lives of millions of workers across the globe. Workers across the world are waiting.’’