Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 27
27
The UK should press for the International Labour Organization to conduct a full investigation of...
Conclusion
The UK should press for the International Labour Organization to conduct a full investigation of the Xinjiang region in order to verify the extent of forced labour there as a matter of urgent priority. (Paragraph 52) Technology and research
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The UK is committed to working through a range of multilateral bodies, including the ILO, to address the human rights violations occurring in Xinjiang. In April 2021, the UK joined Canada, the US and New Zealand in making a joint statement calling for the ILO to make the elimination of forced and compulsory labour a priority. The statement also called on the ILO to “bring attention to and address serious and persistent labor rights deficits”. This statement provided the ILO with a clear mandate to investigate reports of forced labour, including in China. The ILO has subsequently taken steps to implement this. Comments submitted by the Representative for Workers on Xinjiang will be discussed at the International Labour Conference in 2022. This matter remains a priority for us and we will continue to press the ILO to investigate reports of forced labour in Xinjiang. We therefore accept this recommendation.