The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Nov. 22 blacklisted 29 Chinese companies over the use of forced labor, bringing the total to 107. The companies produced a wide range of goods, from foods to pharmaceuticals to gold and technology.
“Forced labor is a violation of basic human rights,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a statement. “The United States is making progress towards the eradication of forced labor while supporting economic fairness, safeguarding human rights, and holding perpetrators accountable.”
Since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) went into effect in 2022, the United States has sought to eliminate forced labor from its supply chains.
The law is named after the Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang, a group that international investigations have found to be subjected to forced labor by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The group has also been targeted for persecution by the regime.
“Today’s enforcement actions make it clear—the United States will not tolerate forced labor in the goods entering our markets,” Robert Silvers, undersecretary of Homeland Security for Strategy, Policy, and Plans and chair of the Federal Labor Enforcement Task Force. said in a statement.
“The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is a powerful tool in the fight against forced labor, and we are using it to its full potential. We urge companies to take responsibility, know their supply chains, and act ethically.”