Please join FBO Member Fasken for a webinar on Bill S-211 An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff (the Act). Bill S-211 received Royal Assent on May 11, 2023 and is expected to come into force on January 1, 2024.

It aims to increase industry awareness and transparency and drive businesses to improve practices to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used by them or in their supply chains.

The Act imposes an obligation on certain entities and government institutions to submit an annual report to the Minister of Public Safety by May 31 of each year on steps taken during the previous financial year to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used by them or in their supply chains.

The second part amends the Customs Tariff to expand the prohibition on the importation of goods mined, manufactured or produced, in whole or in part by forced labour, to also include child labour.

The Act applies to any corporation, trust, partnership or other unincorporated organization whose activities include producing, selling or distributing goods in Canada or elsewhere, importing goods into Canada, or controlling an entity engaged in these activities. Additionally, the entity must either be listed on a stock exchange in Canada or have a place of business in Canada, do business in Canada or have assets in Canada and meet two of the following three criteria for at least one of its two most recent financial years:

1. $20 million or more in assets
2. $40 million or more in revenue
3. 250 or more employees

Additional information on Bill S-211 can be found here.