Slavery in Indian factories

18.1.2017

Question for written answer E-000237-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Anne-Marie Mineur (GUE/NGL)

The India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN)[1] paints a shocking picture, in its latest report, of the problems in spinning mills in southern India, where there is large-scale forced labour, including forced child labour, which, according to ILO Convention No 182, is one of the worst forms of child labour.

1. What is the Commission’s response to the ICN’s findings, not least in the light of the EU’s 2011-2014 strategy for corporate social responsibility[2]?

2. Does the Commission acknowledge that clothing firms established in the EU which, through their supply chains, are involved with those spinning mills are failing to comply with the due diligence guidelines set out in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and what action is it going to take?

3. How will the Commission respond to each of the recommendations in the report, namely requiring firms to bring their due diligence policy into line with OECD guidelines, prioritising (in EU-India relations) action to combat forced labour in the textiles industry, laying down rules for greater production chain transparency, and legislating to combat modern slavery and child labour?

• [1] http://www.indianet.nl/pdf/FabricOfSlavery.pdf
• [2] COM(2011) 681 final