On Tuesday, the Biden administration expanded its efforts to combat the use of forced labor in America’s supply chain by prohibiting imports from three additional Chinese companies. This move is aimed at addressing the ongoing exploitation of minority populations in Asia.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made it clear that the Department of Homeland Security will not tolerate any form of forced labor in the supply chains operating within the United States. Mayorkas emphasized that the department is committed to enforcing labor laws across all industries and sectors, and will take necessary actions to ensure that forced labor is eradicated from the country’s supply chains.
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According to the Department of Homeland Security, China has three companies that are involved in the production of seafood, aluminum, and footwear goods. These industries are considered to be crucial in the economy of Xinjiang.
Mayorkas emphasized the importance of investigating and holding accountable companies that use or enable forced labor. He also called on various stakeholders, including those in industry, civil society, and international partners, to collaborate with the government in eradicating forced labor. “We will continue to investigate companies that use or facilitate forced labor and will hold those entities responsible,” Mayorkas stated firmly.
The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, which is chaired by DHS and includes the federal departments of commerce, justice, labor, state, and treasury, along with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, made the call.
The Uygur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List has recently added these companies, making it a total of 68 Chinese companies on the list. Due to the claims of forced labor of Uyghur population members, including those from the Xinjiang region in northwestern China such as Kazakh and Kyrgyz people, the goods of these companies will now be prohibited from entering the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has taken this step to curb the usage or facilitation of forced labor by these companies.
Rizhao Meijia Group, or Shandong Meijia Group Co., Ltd., is located in Shandong Province and specializes in the processing, selling, and exporting of frozen seafood products, vegetables, and other quick-frozen convenience foods.
John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance based in Florida, has raised concerns about shrimp supply chains that seem to be taking advantage of the most vulnerable populations around the world. The patterns that have emerged are disturbing, as they reveal that profits are being made at the expense of those who are most in need.
The Southern Shrimp Alliance referred to Tuesday’s decision as a “groundbreaking announcement” in a press release.
Williams stated that it is not acceptable for Argentinian red shrimp, which are processed by Uyghurs in Chinese seafood plants, to be sold alongside safe and healthy products in American supermarkets.
According to sources, the seafood company is accused by the United States of participating in a labor transfer program that was sponsored by the Chinese government. The program aimed to relocate and employ Uyghur and other minority groups who were being persecuted, at the company’s factory in Shandong.
According to Williams, the task force’s initiative to combat forced labor in seafood supply chains is a powerful statement to U.S. seafood importers. It highlights the fact that prioritizing lower costs and higher profits can never replace the importance of fulfilling ethical and legal responsibilities.
Based in Guangdong Province, Dongguan Oasis Shoes Co., Ltd. is a company that specializes in the production of shoes and shoe materials. In addition to its main business, the company also operates under three other “Dongguan” styled company names.
According to reports, Dongguan is accused of collaborating with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps to relocate individuals from persecuted minority groups, like the Uyghurs, from Xinjiang to a factory in Guangdong near the southeastern coast of China.
Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity Co., Ltd. manufactures prebaked anodes, graphite carbon, and electrolytic aluminum from Xinjiang.
In December 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act which is a bipartisan effort to address alleged human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur population. The act prohibits the import of goods from the region unless the importer can prove that they are not made with forced labor. Foreign individuals who make use of forced labor also face sanctions under this act.
According to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, who co-sponsored the bill, the law signed by President Biden is considered as the most significant and influential action taken by the United States to hold the Chinese Communist Party responsible for their utilization of forced labor.
In 2022, around 449,000 people, equivalent to 1 in 26 Uyghurs and non-Han individuals in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwest China, were imprisoned, as per the Uyghur Human Rights Project, a research and advocacy group based in Washington.
According to the report, despite the fact that the Uyghur and non-Han population in Xinjiang only constitute 1% of China’s total population, they make up a substantial 34% of China’s prison population in the Uyghur Region.
