On Monday, the Australian Senate passed a bill that would end the country’s participation in international slave labour. The Customs Amendment (Banning Goods Produced By Forced Labour) Bill 2021, which seeks to ban the import of products linked to slavery and forced labour, was proposed by independent Senator Rex Patrick.
Patrick told the Senate, “Slave labour is abhorrent. Its human cost is horrendous, and it leaves Australian businesses competing against imports on unfair terms.” He also referred to China and its communist party, which are believed to be the main perpetrators of slave labour. In this regard, the Senator said, “Massive and systematic oppression of the Uighur people by the Chinese communist regimen is undeniable, including the exploitation of the chained Uighurs as a captive labour force.”
He added, “Uighur forced labour plays a key role in Xinjiang’s massive cotton production and extends across an array of Chinese industries, including the supply chains of global brands.” He called for the Chinese government be made aware of their “unconscionable and unacceptable” practices. Moreover, the Senator believes that multinational companies, including Apple, Adidas, Amazon, and H&M, are also benefiting from the forced labour of Uighurs in China.
After the bill was approved, the Senator said it is an “important step forward in the international efforts to combat modern slavery.”
If passed by the House of Representatives, the law would ensure that the goods imported from any country found to have been produced by forced labour will be subject to the same penalties that apply to other prohibited products, including firearms, ammunition, counterfeit goods and pornography.
However, the Coalition opposed the bill in the Senate and stated that it needs to be “deferred” until more analysis. Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said, “There does need to be a very deep analysis of every single clause to ensure that they are not any unforeseen consequences or circumstances.”
In response, Senator Patrick said that delayed legislative and administrative actions were unacceptable. “We need to send a very clear political signal to Beijing and to the numerous international brands that have been happy to turn a blind eye to China’s massive exploitation of forced labour. We need to send that signal right now–before the Beijing Winter Olympics next February–when the Chinese Communist Party intend to bask in a massive international propaganda event,” he argued.
The bill needs approval from the House of Representatives before becoming a law, and if approved, it would scrutinise supply chains of various sectors to stop modern slavery.
Australia Approves Bill to Ban Import of Forced Labour Products
The Australian Senate has passed a bill that ends the country’s participation in international slave labour and bans the import of products linked to slavery and forced labour.
August 24, 2021
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN