3 Companies Employing Slave Labor Blacklisted

US authorities have added three more textile manufacturers to the list of Chinese companies banned for allegedly working Uyghurs as slaves. The number of Chinese companies on the list has increased to 78.
In a statement made by the US Department of Homeland Security on October 31, 2024, it was stated that goods produced by Esquel Group, Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. and Turpan Esquel Textile Co. have been added to the blacklist and can no longer be imported to the US. The total number of companies on this list has increased to 78.
The statement stated that Esquel Group is based in Hong Kong, while Guangdong Esquel Textile is based in Guangdong province. Turpan Esquel Textile is located in East Turkistan, which has become an open-air prison for Uyghurs.
THE EXCUSE OF “REDUCING POVERTY”
The reason for the blacklisting is the role the companies play in “the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups” in the Uyghur region. It is alleged that these companies use forced labor programs carried out by the Chinese government under the pretext of “reducing poverty.”
FACTORIES SUPPORT UYGHUR GENOCIDE
US officials stated that these companies play an active role in the “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” committed by the Chinese government against the Uyghur and Turkish communities. Although China claims that these companies employ Uyghur Turks as part of a program called “reducing poverty,” the US and independent observers consider these practices to be forced labor and slavery.
SLAVE LABOR UNDER THE EXCUSE OF GAINING VOCATIONAL SKILLS
On the other hand, although the Chinese administration claims that these programs, which are claimed to aim to provide Uyghurs with vocational skills, are voluntary, the US and other countries state that this process is actually labor under slavery-like conditions. In 2021, the US recognized China’s policies towards the Uyghurs as “genocide.”
However, according to a report by the Australian Strategic Research Institute (ASPI), Uyghur Muslims are used as slave labor to supply goods to more than 100 countries and 83 famous brands.