11.32°C Vancouver
Ads

Sep 20, 2023 6:00 PM - The Canadian Press

Investigation into Levi Strauss' ties to forced labor begins

Share On
investigation-into-levi-strauss-ties-to-forced-labor-begins
Levi Strauss denies the allegations, saying they are based on outdated and inaccurate data.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Canada's corporate ethics watchdog has launched an investigation into allegations that Levi Strauss Canada is working with companies that use forced labour in China.

Sheri Meyerhoffer, the ombudsperson for responsible enterprise, is looking into whether the denim company known for Levi's jeans has supply relationships with Chinese companies that source materials from Uyghur people forced to work in the Xinjiang region.

Meyerhoffer's office is tasked with investigating complaints about possible human-rights abuses in the operations of Canadian garment, mining and oil and gas companies.

Levi Strauss denies the allegations, saying they are based on outdated and inaccurate data.

The company did not make itself available for an initial assessment meeting and did not provide information verifying its response to the allegations, the ombudsperson's office said.

Given the company's limited participation in the complaint process, the watchdog said it may consider whether the company is participating in good faith at a later stage in the process.

That could include making a recommendation to the minister of international trade about withdrawing or denying trade advocacy support to the company.

The allegations stem from a complaint that was made in June 2022 by a coalition of 28 civil society organizations. The organizations initially took their complaint to Levi Strauss in November 2021, and they say they have not received a response.

The complaint cited a March 2020 report from Australia that documented the use of Uyghur labour in Xinjiang, as well as a 2021 report by a professor at Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom that linked Levi Strauss to three companies that use or benefit from forced labour.

The United Nations found in 2022 that China committed serious human-rights violations against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities that "may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity."

Beijing has disputed that report.

In its response to the ombudsperson, Levi Strauss said "to the best of the company's knowledge, it has no commercial relationships with the five suppliers named in the complaint."

As a result, the investigation aims to "assess the reliability of the data" in the reports cited in the complaint.

The ombudsperson also recently announced investigations into Walmart, Hugo Boss and Diesel.

Levi is the seventh company to be investigated for allegations it uses Uyghur forced labour in its supply chain, and the ombudsperson's office said more assessments will be made public in the coming weeks.

Latest news

canada-could-face-major-economic-hit-from-trumps-tariff-war-economists-warn
CanadaApr 17, 2025

Canada Could Face Major Economic Hit from Trump’s Tariff War, Economists Warn

Canada could suffer significant economic losses if U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff war becomes a reality, according to economists. While election promises may differ from actual policy, experts warn that a renewed trade war could lead to substantial new costs for Canada. Rebecca Young, Vice President and Economist at the Bank of Nova Scotia, noted that if Canada is hit by serious economic shocks, any government in power would likely need to introduce relief packages. She compared the potential situation to past crises such as the 2008 financial meltdown and the 2020 COVID-19 p
shooting-at-florida-state-university-leaves-six-students-injured-suspect-in-custody
WorldApr 17, 2025

Florida State University Shooting: 20-Year-Old Student Opens Fire, Killing Two and Injuring Six

Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old Florida State University student and the son of a longtime sheriff’s deputy, opened fire outside the university's student union on Thursday, killing two non-students and injuring at least six others. The incident occurred around lunchtime, sparking chaos as students and visitors scrambled for safety, some hiding in a bowling alley and even a freight elevator inside the building. Law enforcement responded quickly to the scene. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell stated that officers confronted Ikner and shot him after he refused to follow their commands. He w
premier-david-eby-pushes-for-early-implementation-of-interprovincial-free-trade
BCApr 17, 2025

Premier David Eby Pushes for Early Implementation of Interprovincial Free Trade

Premier David Eby has expressed his government's readiness to implement free trade with other Canadian provinces ahead of the federal deadline. Speaking to reporters in Victoria, Eby confirmed that legislation to support this initiative has already been introduced and that British Columbia is prepared to move forward immediately. He said the province is ready to implement it now, emphasizing that other provinces will not be required to formally recognize B.C.’s trade rules for the system to function. The legislation in question, Bill 7, aims to eliminate internal trade barriers and promote
b-c-government-announces-changes-to-graduated-drivers-licensing-regime
BCApr 17, 2025

B.C. government announces changes to graduated drivers' licensing regime

The British Columbia government is making changes to its graduated drivers licensing regime, eliminating the need for a second road test to obtain a full licence. Public Safety Minister Garry Begg says the changes, if approved, will see new drivers get "on-road experience" and be subject to a 12-month restriction rather than be required to take another test to get their Class 5 licence. A statement from the ministry says there will also be a new program to licence motorcycle drivers, who are "overrepresented in fatal crashes in B.C." The ministry statement says the program hasn't been signific
woman-two-young-children-missing-after-trying-to-cross-border-into-canada-rcmp
CanadaApr 17, 2025

RCMP Arrest Three for Illegally Entering Canada from U.S., Search Ongoing for Missing Woman and Children

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have arrested three individuals who illegally crossed into Canada from the United States. The arrests were made late Wednesday night in the Montérégie region of Quebec. According to RCMP officials, two men and a woman were spotted crossing the border near the Trout River sector around midnight and were apprehended near Godmanchester, Quebec, approximately 20 kilometres from the U.S. border with New York. The three suspects have been turned over to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for further processing. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Martina Pilarova
ADS
Ads

Related News

ADS
Ads