1 December 2024. WBI Executive Director Dr Bonny Ling spoke on global standards and regulations concerning foreign migrant workers on a special webinar hosted by the American Apparel & Footwear Association and the Fair Labor Association.
WBI 執行長凌怡華 Dr Bonny Ling 在美國服裝鞋類協會 (American Apparel & Footwear Association) 和公平勞工協會 (Fair Labor Association) 合辦的網路研討會上分享關於外籍移工工作環境和雇用的國際標準和規範。
This American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and Fair Labor Association (FLA) briefing focused especially on the Employer Pays Principle and the growing number of regulations worldwide enforcing these international standards on goods made in part or in whole with forced labour practices. These enforcement measures affect mills and suppliers based in Taiwan and around the world where foreign migrant workers can be working.
The AAFA is an industry association for footwear and accessories in the United States, representing brands, retailers and manufacturers. FLA is an international network promoting human rights at work and fair working conditions.
In addition to Dr. Bonny Ling, the webinar featured Angela Santos, Partner and Customs Practice Leader, at the US law firm Arent Fox Schiff, who is a U.S. trade enforcement expert, and her legal colleague Lucas Rock.
The session was moderated by Shelly Heald Han, Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at FLA, and hosted by Nate Herman, AAFA’s Senior Vice President of Policy. The discussion aimed to shed light on U.S. enforcement practices related to forced labor and best practices for the ethical employment of migrant workers.
Bonny began by providing an overview of labor migration in Taiwan, followed by a discussion of relevant international standards. She highlighted challenges in aligning Taiwan’s national regulations with global standards, particularly due to ambiguous terminology in Chinese regarding recruitment fees. She pointed the audience to Work Better Innovations Policy Brief 1/2023 for more details and for advice on reading these terms across the English-Chinese language divide.
Bonny also pointed to our publication Understanding the International Labour Organisation Indicators of Forced Labour, which was produced for a series of trainings targeting Taiwan’s SMEs and featured in Target’s 2023 Sustainability and Governance Report.
The webinar was well attended, reflecting strong interest in understanding and addressing these critical issues to better protect the rights of foreign migrant workers in the global value chain.
