Two Control Yuan members today said they would launch an investigation into government supervision following a US ban targeting bicycle manufacturer Giant Group (巨大集團) over forced labor allegations.
Control Yuan members Wang Yu-ling (王幼玲) and Lai Cheng-chang (賴振昌) said they would investigate whether government agencies had adequately supervised the company and formulated appropriate response strategies.
The incident, in which a Taiwanese enterprise has been sanctioned over allegations of labor rights and human rights contraventions, has a huge effect on Taiwan’s reputation, they said.
Photo: CNA
It also highlights the need for manufacturers and government agencies to improve on labor rights and human rights issues, they said.
An in-depth investigation would be launched into whether enterprises have sufficient awareness of labor rights and human rights policies, and how government supervision agencies could protect workers from forced labor and human rights contraventions, they said.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Sept. 24 issued an order barring bicycles, bicycle parts and accessories made by Giant in Taiwan due to alleged evidence of forced labor.
The CBP said that it had issued a withhold release order to detain shipments of bicycles made in Taiwan by Giant — the world's largest bicycle manufacturer — under a law prohibiting goods made using forced labor from entering the US.
An investigation of Giant had identified forced labor indicators, including abuse of vulnerability, abusive working and living conditions, debt bondage, withholding of wages and excessive overtime, the CBP said.
"Giant profited by imposing such abuse, resulting in goods produced below market value and undercutting American businesses by millions of dollars in unjustly earned profits," the CBP said in a statement announcing the order.
Giant on Sept. 25 said that it would petition US authorities to revoke the ban.
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