Canada probing Walmart, Hugo Boss over allegations of forced labor in supply chains By Reuters

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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The brand of a Walmart Superstore in Rosemead, California, U.S., June 11, 2020. Image taken June 11, 2020. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni//File Photograph

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OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada’s company ethics watchdog on Thursday introduced investigations into the Canadian items of Walmart (NYSE:) and Hugo Boss to probe allegations of Uyghur pressured labor within the firms’ provide chains and operations.

The Canadian Ombudsperson for Accountable Enterprise (CORE) mentioned it had printed an preliminary evaluation report after complaints filed by a coalition of 28 civil society organizations in June 2022.

CORE may even examine the Canadian unit of trend agency Diesel, which is owned by Italy’s OTB. It has already launched probes into Nike (NYSE:) Canada, Dynasty Gold and Ralph Lauren (NYSE:).

“As mediation between the events shouldn’t be at present an choice, we shall be launching investigations into the allegations outlined in these stories,” Sheri Meyerhoffer, CORE’s Ombudsperson, mentioned in an announcement.

Not one of the three firms have been instantly obtainable for remark. CORE mentioned all three denied the allegations.

In March, a U.N. committee mentioned it was involved about China’s therapy of its Muslim minority, together with using pressured labor in opposition to Uyghurs. China denies the allegations.

CORE was launched in 2019 to watch and examine human rights abuses, primarily by Canadian garment, mining and oil and fuel firms working overseas.