In order to adapt and respond to labor challenges in cotton farming, such as those posed in Western China, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has set up an expert Task Force on Forced Labor and Decent Work to review selected elements of the Better Cotton Standard System.
The task force will produce recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the system in identifying, preventing, mitigating and remediating forced-labor risks. The Better Cotton Standard System is a holistic approach to sustainable cotton production that covers all three pillars of sustainability–social, environmental and economic, and addresses the many challenges of cotton production.
The Task Force on Forced Labor and Decent Work brings together representatives from the civil society, retailers, brands and consultancies with a strong expertise in human rights and forced labor issues in supply chains, particularly in the textile sector. The Task Force also draws on the expertise of a project adviser with a background tackling the risks of child and forced labor in cotton harvesting at the International Labor Organisation.
