According to investigations by Canada’s Responsible Business Ombudsperson (CORE), there may have been supply relationships between Nike Canada and six Chinese companies suspected, at least in part, of employing forced Uyghur laborers. After an initial review, a formal investigation will now be launched, CORE announced at a press conference this week. CORE stands for Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise. The agency was set up by the Canadian government in 2019 to hold Canadian companies in various industries accountable for possible human rights violations in their foreign operations.
As early as 2021, a letter was sent to Nike Canada asking the company to ensure that the supply chains did not involve forced labor. According to the complainant, the company did not react to this.
However, Nike Inc., the US parent company of Nike Canada, denies the allegations. Nike does not source any materials or products from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. In addition, it continuously monitors the supplier companies to identify possible risks of forced labor in connection with the employment of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in other parts of China.
Nike isn’t the only company to face these allegations. The authority is also investigating against the Canadian mining company Dynasty Gold.