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No one company can solve a societal issue like forced labor—it’s not about size, but commitment and collaboration
The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that millions of people are trapped in conditions of forced labor. These conditions can include not only physical and psychological threats, but forced labor can also arise when workers become trapped in a job because they are in debt—charged high recruitment fees to work.
What are recruitment fees? Migrants—based on the promises of recruiters—often leave their homes for the opportunity of work in other countries, paying what amounts to a large sum of money for access to those jobs. When they arrive in their new country, they sometimes find something different—far from the opportunity they had been promised. Not only was the job not what it was promised to be, but they have to pay to get the job, and then may be unable to go home. Too often, they are threatened with physical violence, have their passports taken and are saddled with huge fees for their own recruitment, which puts them into debt, essentially forcing them to work against their will—forced to work.
The issue of forced labor and recruitment fees is something that exists across industries and across countries. We are aware of cases involving Burmese fishermen forced to work in the Thai Seafood Industry; Nepalese workers in the Malaysian electronics supply chain; and others. With such a widespread problem, it almost seems insurmountable. But, it shouldn’t be. For us at Walmart, when customers shop in our stores, we want them to feel comfortable that the products they buy were sourced responsibly. To accomplish this Walmart has worked for years to improve the lives of the workers in the supply chain. What we've learned is that the key to making progress includes working with other people, other retailers, NGOs, governments, non‑profits, and, of course, our own suppliers. No one company can solve a societal issue like forced labor—it’s not about size, but commitment and collaboration. A great example of this is the Leadership Group for Responsible Recruitment. Along with other companies and expert organizations, the Leadership Group is committing to and promoting the Employer Pays Principle which says simply, “No worker should pay for a job—the costs of recruitment should be borne not by the worker but by the employer.” The Leadership Group for Responsible Recruitment provides both the commitment and collaboration to address the recruitment fees that too often cause workers to become trapped in forced labor conditions. By eventually eliminating the recruitment fees, we hope this will help solve the issue of excessive worker debt and create an atmosphere of voluntary work.
Those who work in the global supply chain should be recruited and employed responsibly. As Director of Human Rights for Walmart’s global supply chain, I am proud of the way stakeholders value worker dignity, set aside their differences and join forces to tackle one of the most important issues facing us today—the freedom of workers around the world. Remember, none of us can do this alone. So, when it comes to social issues like forced labor, let’s put aside our differences and make a difference together. Let’s speak up with one voice for the vulnerable workers in the global supply chain and proclaim, “No worker should pay for a job.”
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