In November 2006, public attention on forced labor and the responsibility of the transnational corporations was increased when Bloomberg Markets published a hard hitting cover story “The Secret World of Modern Slavery”. The article emphasizes the connection between forced labor found in raw material extraction and corporate beneficiaries higher up the supply chain. After months of research in South America, the reporters uncovered several specific cases linking slavery in charcoal kilns in Brazil and Peru to manufacturing operations in the United States by Nucor Steel, GM, Ford, Toyota and Whirlpool/Maytag.

AYS’ program on eradicating forced labor strives for:

• Just compensation
• Guaranteeing freedom of movement for laborers working in corporate global supply chains
• Transparent and verified implementation of strong worker protection

Our efforts are pushing U.S.-based multinational companies to enforce basic worker rights standards throughout their entire supply chain, including bottom tier suppliers, sub-contractors, and raw materials providers. We are pressing large U.S. brands to utilize their economic clout to help enforce basic human rights and labor laws in countries where civil society and government infrastructure is still weak. Read about our current campaign against Uzbek child labour.