Dear MDBC members,

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.  

MY ORANGE RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CONDUCT (RBC) WORKING GROUP (WG) – EU REGULATION ON FORCED LABOUR: WEBINAR

The MY Orange RBC WG would like to invite you to an online session focusing on the forthcoming EU Forced Labour Regulation (FLR).
This session will feature two presentations: One addressing the regulation’s implications for companies, and the other examining the current state of forced and bonded labour in Malaysia.

Presenters will be Merel Thijssen and Loes de Kort, (Senior) Policy Officers Responsible Business Conduct at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a speaker from a Malaysian non – profit human rights organization.

Date: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Time: 15:00 – 16:15 hrs
Platform: Zoom

– Open to MDBC members and their supply chain partners.
– Other organizations who are interested are welcome to register. Acceptance to this event will be reconfirmed.

EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL INVITATION FOR RBC WG MEMBERS:

MDBC members of the MY Orange Responsible Business Conduct Working Group (RBC WG) are invited to attend this event as follows:
At 15:00 hrs (Online Presentation at the Embassy)
At 16:15 hrs (Immediately after the webinar, join the RBC WG Exclusive Closed Door Meeting with Speakers, Embassy, and MDBC for further dialogue)
Venue: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
To join this exclusive invite, please include RBC WG under “Other Comments” when you register online.

Itinerary:
Session 1 (15:00 – 16:15 hrs): ONLINE – Open to the Public
Session 2 (16:15 – 17:00 hrs): CLOSED DOOR SESSION – My Orange RBC WG

MY Orange RBC WG:
Launched on 18 April 2023 as a collaboration between MDBC and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the MY Orange RBC WG provides an open space for knowledge sharing on best responsible practices, potential supply chain risks, and overall experiences with sustainability measures between company peers.  With Dutch and EU due diligence legislations upcoming, the RBC WG will dive deeper into the best actions to undertake when preparing for these requirements, addressing the challenges that can arise when doing so, and covering what risks this may entail.  For more info, please click here.

EU Regulation on Forced Labour:
On 14 September 2022, the EU Commission proposed new rules to ban products made with forced labour on the market of the European Union.  The FLR is expected to enter into force before the end of 2024.  The regulation enables the EU to prohibit the sale, import, and export of goods made using forced labour. All industry sectors will be covered by the new legislation. Member state authorities and the European Commission will be able to investigate suspicious goods,  supply chains, and manufacturers. If a product is deemed to have been made using forced labour, it will no longer be possible to sell it on the EU market (including online) and shipments will be intercepted at the EU’s borders. After the FLR has entered into force, member states have one year to designate one or more competent authorities. The regulation will take effect three years after entering into force.

The use of forced labour in the manufacture of products remains a worldwide problem. Today, worldwide, 27,6 million people are trapped in the hands of human traffickers and states who force them to
work for little or no pay (EU Council). Over half of the world’s victims of human trafficking and slavery are found in the Asia-Pacific region. Where the majority is linked to the formal economy and global supply chains. With migrant workers often in demand to fill critical labour shortages, they are frequently more vulnerable to exploitation and unfair labour practices than locally recruited labour (EU Council). “Forced labour refers to situations in which persons are coerced to work through the use of violence or intimidation, or by more subtle means such as accumulated debt, retention of identity papers or threats of denunciation to immigration authorities.” (ILO)

Please Note:

* Non – members may register their interest for Session 1; they will be placed on a waitlist
* Only MY Orange RBC WG members may attend Session 2.  If you are a current MDBC member and would like to register for the working group, please click here.

REGISTRATION

Please register online via the form below.
By clicking and registering online you acknowledge the event guidelines.

Please register no later than Friday, 10 January 2025 (12:00 hrs)