A new analysis reveals that only 3 out of 45 major ICT companies scored above 50/100 in addressing forced labor risks in their supply chains. The average score was just 20/100, indicating widespread shortcomings in human rights due diligence, according to the KnowTheChain ICT Benchmark 2025.
The results indicate that most of the world’s leading electronics companies are failing to adequately address forced labor risks in their supply chains. According to the analysis, “Global tech giants NVIDIA, Fujifilm and Panasonic and key Apple suppliers BOE and Luxshare Precision Industry are among dozens of firms putting the lives and livelihoods of supply chain workers at risk.”
The study assessed companies’ efforts in supply chain transparency, worker protection, and grievance mechanisms. Key shortcomings included lack of meaningful worker engagement, poor oversight of subcontractors, and limited public disclosure of labor policies.
These findings come amid rising regulatory pressure in Europe and the U.S. on corporate human rights due diligence. With forced labor still prevalent in regions producing critical components, stakeholders are urging firms to adopt enforceable standards and third-party audits. Improved supplier accountability is increasingly seen as a business imperative, not just a reputational risk.
Read the Press Release which first appeared on Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.
