The Effect of California Anti-Trafficking Law on Business

An estimated 12 million people are enslaved worldwide, 50,000 in the United States every year.  By far, more individuals are trafficked and made slaves today than at any time when the practice was “legal.”

The State of California has responded with the recent passage of Senate Bill 657, the “California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010.”  The law takes effect January 1, 2011.  It will require California retailers and manufacturers to disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery from their supply chain.  The law targets agriculture, mining, garment and other industries in which slave labor is most common.

In announcing the new law, Governor Schwarzenegger stated: “Human trafficking is a terrible crime that goes against basic human rights and everything our country stands for. I am proud that in California, we have enacted some of the toughest laws to punish human traffickers and protect their victims. This legislation will increase transparency, allow consumers to make better, more informed choices and motivate businesses to ensure humane practices through the supply chain.”

For more information about the law and the facts on human trafficking in California, visit Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST).  CAST was a co-sponsor of the bill.

(Photo by One Eleven Photography)