Germany also benefits from slave labor

Unfair working conditions prevail in many regions of the world. Germany also benefits from this, the supply chain law is intended to remedy abuses. Now an expert speaks out.

“Supply Chain Due Diligence Act” is a rather unwieldy word for a well-intentioned cause. “The law regulates corporate responsibility for compliance with human rights in global supply chains,” according to the website of the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, which came into force on January 1, 2023.

Anahita Thoms, lawyer, expert in international trade and partner at the major law firm Baker McKenzie, has now commented on this in an interview with ntv.de. “There are studies and also an online tool that examine or calculate how much slave labor is behind everyone’s lifestyle,” explains Thoms in it. To then explain that, statistically speaking, “between 30 and 50 slaves” are indirectly employed in terms of lifestyle for every German.

“That’s why you have to deal with this topic seriously,” emphasizes Thoms. But what does the lawyer say about the supply chain law, which imposes special obligations on companies in Germany with more than 3,000 employees in order to prevent abuse of workers?

“Everyone I speak to is against child labor and forced labor,” said Thoms ntv.de. “But a supply chain contains many imponderables.” The difficulties are in the details. “Of course I can pay attention to occupational safety in my factory,” says the lawyer. “I can also put a lot of pressure on the direct supplier through my contracts. It gets complex with indirect suppliers because the law requires that you have ‘substantial knowledge’ of these practices to take action.”

The German supply chain law is a first step, but Thoms wants to go one step further: “We should at least use our strength and energy for an EU-wide law.” The lawyer also hopes for more awareness among the population: “More and more people want to know how things are produced or work for an employer who has nothing to do with these topics.”