Ralph Lauren Allegedly Using Forced Labor From Uyghur Minority
Canada's corporate watchdog has launched an investigation into Ralph Lauren's Canadian unit following allegations that the company used forced labor from China's Uyghur minority.
This move comes after similar probes into Nike Canada and Dynasty Gold by the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE).
A coalition of civil society organizations filed a complaint last year, asserting that Ralph Lauren Canada had ties to Chinese companies benefiting from Uyghur forced labor.
Ralph Lauren's US parent company has challenged Canadian jurisdiction over the matter, arguing that its subsidiary is not responsible for decision-making.
Rights groups claim that over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been subjected to forced labor and abuses in China's Xinjiang region.
While Western lawmakers label this as a "genocide," China denies the accusations, describing the facilities as vocational centers targeting extremism.