Counterfeiting and labour abuse strongly linked – study

PARIS / ALICANTE – The global textile and apparel industry is set to face fresh scrutiny over human rights due diligence after a new study provided extensive evidence that illicit trade in counterfeit goods is closely associated with labour exploitation, including forced labour, child labour and unsafe working conditions.

The joint report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shows that countries most frequently identified as sources of counterfeit products tend to have weaker labour-market conditions.