Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act
An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff
Status
This bill has received Royal Assent and is, or will soon become, law.
Summary
This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.
This enactment enacts the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act , which imposes an obligation on certain government institutions and private-sector entities to report on the measures taken to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used by them or in their supply chains. The Act provides for an inspection regime applicable to entities and gives the Minister the power to require an entity to provide certain information. This enactment also amends the Customs Tariff to allow for aprohibition on the importation of goods manufactured or produced,in whole or in part, by forced labour or child labour as those terms are defined in the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act .
Similar bills
C-243 (current session)
Ending the Use of Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other S-211s:
S-211 (2020)
International Mother Language Day Act
S-211 (2015)Law
National Sickle Cell Awareness Day Act
S-211 (2013)Law
National Health and Fitness Day Act
Votes
May 3, 2023Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff
June 1, 2022Passed 2nd reading of Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff
This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below.
Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Bill S-211, also known as the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, aims to increase transparency and accountability in Canadian supply chains by requiring large companies and the federal government to report annually on measures taken to prevent and mitigate the risks of forced labor or child labor. The bill would require these entities to examine their supply chains and certify that they are free of slave products, or disclose the steps they are taking to address any identified risks, with penalties for non-compliance including fines and import bans. While some argue the bill does not go far enough in holding companies accountable and ensuring due diligence, it is viewed by supporters as a necessary first step towards addressing forced labor in global supply chains.
Conservative
Supports bill S-211: The Conservative party supports Bill S-211 and has worked to advance it through the legislative process. While acknowledging it is not a perfect solution, they believe it represents an improvement over the current situation and will encourage companies to address forced labor in their supply chains through transparency and disclosure.
Need for targeted approach: The party emphasizes the need for a more targeted approach toward specific regions and entities known for high levels of slave labor and government complicity, such as the Uyghur region in China. They advocate for aligning Canada's enforcement standards with those of like-minded countries, like the United States' Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, to effectively prevent products made with forced labor from entering the country.
Enforcement is currently inadequate: Multiple members highlight the need to improve enforcement of existing rules, noting the vast difference in the number of shipments intercepted in the US versus Canada. They emphasize the importance of collaboration with allies in intelligence sharing and enforcement to combat forced labor more effectively.
Bill lacks sufficient teeth: Concerns are raised that the bill may not be strong enough, as it does not prescribe specific measures for compliance and may allow companies to self-regulate without sufficient oversight. Members express a desire for more binding measures and standards to effectively remediate forced and child labor, including considering the victims and their perspective.
NDP
Opposes Bill S-211: The NDP opposes Bill S-211, arguing it is deeply flawed and creates the appearance of action against forced labour and child labour without actually having a meaningful effect. They believe the bill fails to hold companies accountable and address egregious human rights abuses in their supply chains.
Bill is Inadequate: The bill only requires companies to report on steps taken, if any, to prevent forced or child labour. It applies to a small minority of companies, does not require companies to stop using child or forced labour, does not require human rights due diligence, and is silent on other egregious human rights abuses.
Supports Stronger Legislation: The NDP has put forward Bills C-262 and C-263, which would implement human rights and environmental due diligence, hold companies accountable, and give the Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise the power to investigate and hold companies accountable.
Amendments Rejected: The NDP proposed six amendments to Bill S-211 at the committee stage to improve the legislation based on expert testimony, but the government rejected all of them, indicating a lack of commitment to addressing the core issues.
Bloc
Against S-211 at report stage: The Bloc Québécois opposes Bill S-211 at the report stage, believing it has major flaws and does not go far enough to prevent the importation of goods made with forced labor, slavery, or child labor. They feel it relies too heavily on corporate goodwill without providing necessary checks and due diligence.
Bill lacks teeth: The bill fails to ensure that necessary checks are performed to confirm the spirit of the bill is being respected to prevent the importation into Canada of goods made with forced labour, slavery or child labour. The Bloc argues that the bill only calls for transparency, but does not require companies to take any due diligence measures.
Transparency is not enough: The Bloc believes that the bill's emphasis on transparency is insufficient to address the issue effectively and transform Canada into a leader in combating forced labor. They would prefer a more robust bill, similar to Bill C-262, that includes due diligence requirements, consequences for non-compliance, and provisions for remediation.
Liberal
Supports bill as first step: The Liberal Party supports Bill S-211 as an important first step in addressing forced labour in supply chains, acknowledging the work of Senator Miville-Dechêne and the member for Scarborough—Guildwood. The government will introduce its own legislation to improve upon the bill and go further in eradicating forced labour.
Focus on supply chain transparency: The bill is primarily a supply chain transparency bill, requiring companies to examine their supply chains, certify their products are free of slave labour and report their findings. The mere existence of this bill is expected to create a high level of compliance, as companies worry about their reputational damage and increased financial costs.
Canadian context: The party seeks a comprehensive solution, emphasizing the need to consider the Canadian context and collaborate with like-minded countries. The approach also necessitates equipping businesses to comply, ensuring effective monitoring and enforcement to achieve the desired impact.
