During National Health Care Supply Chain Week, the Federal Government and Private Sector Release Joint Guidance on Forced Labor Risk

The Joint Forced Labor Working Group (JFLWG), co-chaired by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office on Trafficking in Persons and Northwell Health , has issued guidance for the health care and public health sectors regarding the risk of forced labor in supply chains. This marks the first set of considerations jointly endorsed by both public and private sectors, specifically aimed at helping health care and public health organizations mitigate forced labor risks associated with purchased goods and services.

The threat of forced labor and exploitation in global supply chains is a critical issue. According to the International Labor Organization, on any given day in 2021, 27.6 million people were subjected to forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation across various sectors worldwide. The estimated global prevalence of human trafficking rose from 3.4 to 3.5 per 1,000 people between 2016 and 2021, driven entirely by the private economy.

"HHS is committed to preventing human trafficking and forced labor. The exploitation of workers in the health care supply chain violates their rights - and it also poses a threat to the safety and well-being of patients," said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. "The Joint Forced Labor Working Group is taking a proactive and unified approach to prevent exploitation within our supply chains."

Established in 2023, the JFLWG is a chartered working group comprised of federal agencies, health care systems, distributors, independent workers' rights advocates, individuals with lived trafficking experience, nongovernmental organizations, and other subject matter experts.

The Working Group's considerations build upon existing federal initiatives, including the Biden-Harris Administration's National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking , National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct , and National Strategy for a Resilient Public Health Supply Chain. Theseinitiatives aim to enhance equitable labor conditions, promote transparency in supply chains, and mitigate risks associated with forced labor. They also call for equitable labor conditions, transparency in supply chains, and mitigation of risks associated with forced labor.

"The Administration for Children and Families is dedicated to safeguarding individuals from trafficking and exploitation," said Jeff Hild, ACF principal deputy assistant secretary. "We will continue to work hand in hand with our federal partners and the private sector to eradicate forced labor in our supply chains. Our mission is clear: to strengthen prevention efforts at every level - from individuals and families to entire communities and industries."

Considerations include:

• Develop and adopt policies, codes of conduct, and contract language on forced labor to integrate into a broader program of environmental, social, and governance due diligence.

• Set metrics for measuring compliance and regularly review policies to incorporate evolving best practices and lessons learned.

• Assess forced labor risk by product or service, geography, and size of the contract.

• In high-risk supply chains, map components of production and labor by verifying data with suppliers rather than relying solely on tech platforms.

For the full list of considerations and additional information about the JFLWG, visit acf.hhs.gov/otip/jflwg.

Administration for Children & Families
Office of Communications
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Phone: (202) 401-9215
Fax: (202) 205-9688
Email:[email protected]