What Canada's New Forced Labour Reporting Law Means For Mining Companies

Sharon Singh, Sabrina Bandali and Jessica Horwitz write in Canadian Mining Journal on how Canada may soon have a new public reporting regime that will have immediate implications for mining companies. Bill S-211, an act to enact the fighting against forced labour and child labour in supply chains act and to amend the customs tariff, is poised to imminently pass third reading in the House of Commons. If passed, the act will create disclosure obligations for many Canadian mining companies and clarify and expand existing laws on forced labour and child labour.

They say that mining companies should review their supply chain due diligence and monitoring practices now, familiarize themselves with best practices, understand the differences between Canadian and other jurisdictions’ legislation combating modern slavery, and implement appropriate systems, processes, and practical strategies to prevent and mitigate the risk of forced labour and child labour in their supply chains.