Source: Forbes
Summary
Forced labor in Turkmenistan’s cotton sector has worsened despite international efforts to address the issue, according to new findings. Tainted cotton is being masked by intermediary countries, making it difficult to track its origin. International intervention has failed to improve the situation, with reports of forced labor persisting in the sector.
Our Reading
The trend returns with a new name. In 2020, the US Customs and Border Protection agency banned all cotton products from Turkmenistan due to forced labor concerns. In 2022, the Turkmen government reportedly forced citizens to pick cotton under the threat of penalty. Now, tainted cotton is being laundered through intermediary countries to disguise its origin. The fashion industry’s reliance on complex supply chains makes it difficult to track the origin of cotton. It’s just another season of dirty cotton.
Author: Evan Null
