More Manpower from CBP Taking Aim at Forced Labor
Force labor issues among importers are not going away. The CBP announced at the end of September that they will be expanding to include two investigative branches, one of which will specifically focus on forced labor operations.
Their aim is to diversify the geographic locations of the investigations, to include more than just Asia. Asia will remain a primary concern, while additional resources and manpower clear up room for CBP officials to also investigate Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
It is more important than ever for you to know your supply chain intimately. This includes the mining, production, and manufacturing of goods entering the United States.
The CBP released seven WRO’s so far in 2021. That might not sound like much, but for anyone impacted by the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region WRO, those seven had a significant impact. In the past year, 696 shipments were detained.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), forced labor can include:
- Abuse of vulnerability
- Restriction of movement
- Isolation
- Deception
- Retention of identity documents
- Physical and sexual violence
- Withholding of wages
- Debt bondage
- Abusive working and living conditions
- Excessive overtime
- Intimidation and threats
To avoid delays due to forced labor investigations, see our article on the documentation you may need.
Most importantly, keep your Copper Hill representative updated on any supply chain changes or questions.
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