Effective January 1, 2024, many companies in Canada will be required to report under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, formerly known as Bill S-211. Companies it applies to will need to outline steps that have been taken in the previous fiscal year to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour and child labour at any step in their supply chain.

The first annual report is due by May 31, 2024, with a requirement for it to be publicly posted online and be formally approved by the governing body. Non-compliance measures including substantial fines are in place to support the Act. SMEs engaged with larger suppliers who will need to report under the Act must also plan now to provide sustainability information to the supplier directly.

Join ESG Partners' President & Founder Nancy Foran on Thursday, January 25 for a virtual preparatory session to learn more about whether this applies to you directly or may apply indirectly through clients or business partners, and how to align procedures and reporting with mandatory elements of the Act to maintain compliance and reduce the likelihood of forced labour in your supply chain.