Forced labor

In recent years, China has faced increasing allegations of forced labor in Xinjiang. Members of Muslim minority groups, such as Uyghurs, are forced to perform labor in camps and factories. This also affects the supply chains of European companies. The People’s Republic denies all allegations. All news on forced labor in China from the Table.Media editorial team. Laogai: Forced Labor in China – Past or Present? Laogai were labor camps where criminals were supposed to be reformed through forced labor. Officially, laogai was abolished in China in 1994. All laogai penal camps were converted into prisons. In addition, China ended the so-called laojiao system (re-education through labor) in 2013, which sentenced offenders of minor offenses to one–two years of labor and political re-education. However, there are reports suggesting that laogai penal camps continue to exist in secret in China. As a result, China is accused of promoting forced labor in various industries. China’s Labor Camps: What Are the Allegations of Forced Labor in China? In recent years, the People’s Republic of China has come under criticism, particularly for the use of forced labor in the Xinjiang region. In Xinjiang, Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities are detained in re-education camps, so-called “vocational training centers.” The Chinese government denies the existence of re-education camps and emphasizes the importance of the “vocational training centers” as a measure against extremism and terrorism. The re-education camps in Xinjiang are closely linked to allegations of forced labor. What are the allegations regarding forced labor in Xinjiang? According to a 2022 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Slavery, forced labor in Xinjiang can be broadly divided into two systems: Forced labor in China is not limited to the Xinjiang province. After their stay in the camps, workers are transferred from the province to other parts of China to work in factories. The working conditions there indicate forced labor. Which sectors are affected by forced labor in Xinjiang? The first allegations of forced labor in Xinjiang, China, emerged as early as 2018. Forced labor in cotton cultivation in Xinjiang has received particular international attention. About 85% of Chinese cotton comes from the province. Many international, European, and German companies source cotton from China and came under pressure when the allegations became public. Tracing the origin of the cotton is difficult to ensure, as it is mostly traded in blends. Companies such as H&M and Nike, which stopped sourcing cotton from the region after allegations of forced labor in Xinjiang came to light, subsequently faced a boycott of their products in China. Furthermore, it is suspected that Uyghurs are forced to perform labor in factories across various parts of China. The transfer of Uyghur workers to other parts of China is officially referred to by the Chinese government as “Xinjiang Aid” (援疆). The factories are part of the supply chains for well-known brands such as Apple, Volkswagen, Huawei, and Nike. Another sector where reports of forced labor have recently emerged is the production of raw materials for solar panels. According to research, the polysilicon required for solar panels is produced under conditions of forced labor in Xinjiang. Forced Labor in China: What Is the Chinese Government’s Response? The Chinese government vehemently denies the use of forced labor in Xinjiang. It describes the re-education camps as part of a “vocational training program” aimed at combating extremism in conjunction with poverty alleviation. The camps, it claims, were established in compliance with the law and under legal oversight. Furthermore, the scale of the centers has already been reduced or even completely dismantled. Furthermore, the Chinese government emphasizes that employment contracts and the deployment of workers are carried out on a voluntary basis. Following a visit to China by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet in May 2022, the United Nations (UN) published a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in Xinjiang in August 2022 and also denounced forced labor in China and Xinjiang. The PRC’s UN mission responded with a document denying all allegations regarding the human rights situation and forced labor in Xinjiang. What is the EU’s response to forced labor in China? The EU intends to ban products made with forced labor in China and other countries in the future. The United States already passed a law in 2021 banning the import of products made with forced labor by Uyghurs. For European companies, this means they will have to scrutinize their supply chains and the origin of their products more closely. Criticism of China’s forced labor is clear. How the situation regarding forced labor in Xinjiang is developing, what measures the EU is implementing, and China’s stance: Read all the latest news on forced labor in China from the Table.Media editorial team.

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