Ottawa's corporate ethics watchdog has announced an investigation into fashion company Ralph Lauren over the alleged use of forced labour in its supply chains.
China denies allegations that Uyghur citizens are being used for forced labour in what it has called "detention" centres or "re-education" camps. Beijing insists the centres are meant to weed out Islamic radicalization after several deadly domestic attacks.
In her report Tuesday, Meyerhoffer cited two vendors that supply textile materials to Ralph Lauren. Both vendors have been accused by researchers of purchasing Xinjiang cotton through intermediaries, or co-operating in the transfer of workers subject to forced labour. The ombudsperson opted not to include in her investigation 26 shipments into Canada of Ralph Lauren goods that involved a Chinese company accused of forced labour.
Meyerhoffer has encouraged the company to enter mediation with the complainants, a coalition of human-rights groups that include numerous Uyghur organizations. She said the process can happen privately, with the ombudsperson reviewing the final outcome. "GobiMin has not provided information that it took appropriate steps to ensure a responsible exit when it sold its interest in ," her report reads.
All four reports relate to China's Xinjiang region, where most of the country's Uyghur population lives.The Chinese embassy in Ottawa maintains that Beijing does not allow modern-day slavery.
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