The European Solar Manufacturing Council (ESMC) welcomes the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights’ recent report calling for mandatory due diligence legislation and import bans on goods linked to forced labour, particularly in the solar sector.
The report highlights the high-risk exposure of solar supply chains to forced labour practices, notably in the upstream production of polysilicon, and rightly criticises the limitations of voluntary, industry-led initiatives.
We fully support the Committee’s demand that government-led, independently verifiable mechanisms must replace voluntary self-certification. We also note the report’s emphasis on independent assessments in public procurement – an approach that aligns with our ongoing advocacy at EU level.
The EU’s upcoming Forced Labour Regulation is a historic opportunity to ensure that the energy transition is not built on human rights abuses. However, its success will depend on clear enforcement, product-specific traceability rules, and effective oversight.
ESMC calls on European legislators to:
– Ensure the Forced Labour Regulation includes strong traceability requirements for solar products;
– Mandate third-party audits and product-level supply chain verification;
– Prohibit the import of solar goods produced with forced labour, as part of a comprehensive human rights approach to the green transition.
“We commend the UK Parliament for showing leadership on this issue – and urge the EU to match it with swift and ambitious implementation,” Christoph Podewils, the ESMC Secretary General said.