**Canada’s corporate watchdog probes Ralph Lauren on alleged use of forced labor in China**.
Ralph Lauren is facing an investigation by Canada’s corporate watchdog over allegations that the company is using forced labor in its supply chain in China..
The Canadian Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (CCRP) has filed a complaint with the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), alleging that Ralph Lauren is sourcing cotton from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), where the Chinese government has been accused of carrying out a campaign of genocide against the Uyghur population..
The CCRP alleges that Ralph Lauren is violating the Canadian Extractive Sector Corporate Responsibility Act (CSR Act), which requires Canadian companies to identify, prevent, and mitigate human rights risks in their global operations..
The complaint alleges that Ralph Lauren has failed to conduct adequate due diligence on its supply chain, and that the company is not taking sufficient steps to ensure that its products are not produced using forced labor..
Ralph Lauren has denied the allegations, saying that it does not source cotton from the XUAR, and that it is committed to ethical sourcing practices..
However, the CCRP has provided evidence to CORE that suggests that Ralph Lauren may be sourcing cotton from the XUAR. The evidence includes a report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), which found that Ralph Lauren is one of over 80 global brands that are sourcing cotton from the XUAR..
The ASPI report also found that the Chinese government is using forced labor to harvest cotton in the XUAR, and that Uyghurs are being subjected to a range of human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture, and forced sterilization..
The CCRP is calling on CORE to investigate Ralph Lauren’s alleged use of forced labor in the XUAR, and to take appropriate action to ensure that the company complies with the CSR Act..
The investigation by CORE is the latest in a series of actions taken by governments and companies to address the issue of forced labor in the XUAR. In the United States, the Biden administration has banned the import of cotton and other products from the XUAR, and the United Kingdom has announced that it will impose sanctions on Chinese officials involved in the forced labor program..
A number of companies have also stopped sourcing cotton from the XUAR, including Nike, Adidas, and H&M..
The CCRP’s complaint against Ralph Lauren is a significant development, as it is the first time that a Canadian company has been accused of using forced labor in the XUAR. The investigation by CORE could lead to Ralph Lauren being fined or even banned from operating in Canada..
The allegations against Ralph Lauren are a reminder of the importance of ethical sourcing practices. Companies have a responsibility to ensure that their products are not produced using forced labor, and they must be held accountable if they fail to meet this responsibility..
