The EU Forced Labour Regulation: what the new Commission Guidelines mean for your business

An estimated 27.6 million people are in forced labour worldwide, and a significant proportion of that work reaches consumers through global supply chains. Forced labour is rarely visible to the businesses whose products depend on it. It sits several tiers down, in recruitment practices, debt bondage and the isolation of workers who have no safe way to raise a concern.

The EU Forced Labour Regulation (EUFLR) responds to this with a ban rather than a reporting duty. This is a significant shift. Companies used to disclosure obligations will find that the EUFLR does not ask them to submit a report or follow and demonstrate a prescribed compliance process. It asks that forced labour is not there. This makes prevention, and the human rights due diligence that supports it, the only reliable route to readiness.

ETI has analysed the Commission’s Guidelines through the lens of what actually protects workers and what businesses need to do. Join us to:

• Understand the key requirements of the EUFLR, how enforcement will work, and what to prioritise now, ahead of the ban taking effect in December 2027.
• Explore what the Commission means by credible due diligence, why documented due diligence is your best protection against an investigation escalating, and why the Guidelines are clear that social audits alone are not enough.
• Consider the practical implications for your business and supply chains, including why switching suppliers on its own does not resolve a violation, what responsible disengagement requires, and what to ask our experts on the day.
• Hear how ETI is helping companies prepare, including the practical guidance, tools, peer learning and collective action available through ETI membership. 

Whether you are well advanced in your human rights due diligence or working out where to start, this session will help you prepare for December 2027.