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ARTICLE · 01 SEPTEMBER 2026

Forced Labor: From Labor Risk To Business Risk

EC Rubio
EC Rubio
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EC Rubio

EC Rubio

EC Rubio is a full-service Mexican law firm specializing in national and international business...

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International trade policies now link labor rights with market access and supply chain continuity, transforming labor compliance from an internal HR matter into a critical business risk.

United StatesEmployment and HR
Javier Canseco-Malloy
Javier Canseco-Malloy

Why companies should review and document labor compliance across their operations, contractors, and supply chains.

For many years, labor compliance was primarily viewed as an internal Human Resources and Legal matter. Non-compliance could result in labor inspections, employment claims, or administrative penalties. That landscape has changed.

Today, international trade policies increasingly link respect for labor rights with market access, supply chain continuity, and business relationships with customers, investors, and strategic partners.

Recent actions taken by the United States to restrict products associated with forced labor reflect a global trend that companies can no longer afford to ignore:

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