The New Dutch Child Labor Due Diligence Law (2022)
The Dutch Child Labor Due Diligence Law (“Wet van 24 oktober 2019 houdende de invoering van een zorgplicht ter voorkoming van de levering van goederen en diensten die met behulp van kinderarbeid tot stand zijn gekomen – Wet zorgplicht kinderarbeid”) (the Law) is not expected to enter into force until mid-2022, in order to provide companies a period in which to investigate their supply chains.
Efforts by companies to comply with the Law will be closely watched by Dutch consumers, as well as by companies around the world. The new Dutch legislation obliges companies to investigate whether their goods or services have been produced utilizing child labor and to devise a plan to prevent child labor in their supply chains if they find it. There are significant administrative fines and criminal penalties for non-compliance. The Law also imposes a reporting obligation.
The Law is not expected to enter into force until mid-2022, in order to provide companies a period in which to investigate their supply chains.
The Law applies to all companies that sell or supply goods or services to Dutch consumers, no matter where the company is based or registered, with no exemptions for legal form or size. The Act defines consumers as natural persons or legal entities using, consuming or purchasing goods or services.
Please contact us for more information, including the human rights due diligence obligation.