Uyghur forced labor refers to the systematic and widespread use of forced labor, particularly targeting the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region where Uyghurs refer to Uyghurstan or East Turkistan.
What are the evidence of Uyghur forced labor?
Evidence of Uyghur forced labor has emerged from various reports indicating that Uyghur individuals are arbitrarily detained in mass internment camps, where they undergo political indoctrination, forced labor, and other forms of abuse. Concerns extend to multiple industries, such as cotton farming, textiles, electronics, and manufacturing. Accusations against the Chinese government for human rights abuses, crimes against humanity, and forced Uyghur labor have been made by human rights organizations, governments, and independent researchers.
These reports and allegations have spurred calls for accountability, investigations, and actions to address the severe human rights issues in the region. Independent research institutions and media outlets have conducted extensive investigations, concluding that the Chinese government aggressively compels Uyghurs into labor for assimilation and profit.
References:
UN Rapporteur Finds Evidence of Forced Labor in Xinjiang, Tibet
‘Re-education’, forced labor, and surveillance beyond Xinjiang.
How Beijing Forces Uyghurs to Pick Cotton: Coercive labor is getting less visible but more intense.
China: 83 major brands implicated in a report on forced labor of ethnic minorities from Xinjiang assigned to factories across provinces; Includes company responses
What does China say ?
The Chinese government denies the accusations and maintains that its policies in Xinjiang (Uyghur homeland) are aimed at combating extremism and fostering economic development. The situation remains a subject of ongoing international scrutiny and debate.
What is Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention ACT?
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) is a US federal law that was enacted on December 23, 2021. The law’s goal is to:
- Prevent the importation of goods made in part or wholly with forced labor into the US
- End the systematic use of forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR)
- Ensure that American entities are not funding forced labor among ethnic minorities in the XUAR
The UFLPA establishes a rebuttable presumption that any goods produced in China’s XUAR or by certain entities are prohibited from importation into the US. However, the presumption applies unless the Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determines that the goods were not produced using forced labor.
The UFLPA’s traditional “high-priority sectors” include cotton, tomatoes, and polysilicon.
