Labor Trafficking in Global Supply Chains

Why Do We Talk About Globalization and �Labor Trafficking?

Definition of Labor Trafficking

• Labor trafficking: Forcing individuals to work under threats or coercion, often under exploitative conditions.

Link to Global Supply Chains

• Many everyday products are produced through global networks, involving many different countries and workers.

Why This Matters

• Understanding where our products come from and the labor involved can help us make more informed choices.

Industries of high risk in Human trafficking

• Textiles and Clothes: Countries like Bangladesh, India, Vietnam.
• Electronics: Factories in China, Malaysia, Philippines.
• Agriculture: Coffee, chocolate, sugar production in Latin America and West Africa.
• Mining: Precious minerals (e.g., cobalt, gold) in regions of Africa.

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• High Demand for Cheap Goods: Global consumer demand low prices.
• Low Wages and Lack of Regulation: In some countries, labor laws are weak, making exploitation easier.
• Complex Supply Chains: Products pass through many hands, making it hard to track labor conditions.

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Why these Industries:

Company Certifications

Some companies have obtained certifications to ensure consumers� know they are working ethically.

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• Fair Trade Certification: Ensures fair wages and working conditions.
• Ethical Trade Labels: Look for certifications like Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, or B-Corp to know that products are responsibly sourced.
• Not Always a Guarantee: While helpful, certifications are not always foolproof; awareness is still key.

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Activity

1. Write your name on the sheet
2. Write the name of your favorite shops
3. Ask your classmates what are their favorite shops and those to your worksheet.. Try to get as many different names as possible
4. When your sheet is full, then look up online three of the companies and see if there is a high risk of exploitation within their supply chains. You can find a lot of information on: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ and on

https://directory.goodonyou.eco/search/gap

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Print out one “Scavenger Hunt” worksheet for each student..

Companies that are Making the Switch to Fair Trade

A Guide to Ethical Shopping and Fair Trade

Choose one company listed in the Guide and research how they were able to make the switch to fair trade

As a group, write on the board: companies that are certified

1. :
2. :
3. :
4. :
5. :
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Reflection Questions

• Which products surprised you?
• If the companies aren't certified can you conclude they are not monitoring labor trafficking?
• Did certain countries of origin come up more frequently?
• What questions do you have about your products and where they come from?

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