Singapore tells US no forced labour in supply chain

Singapore, Apr 15 (PTI) Singapore, largely dependent on migrant workers in labour-intensive industries, on Wednesday told the United States that it does not condone the use of forced labour in supply chains and has a comprehensive framework to enforce against such illegal practices.
     In written submissions, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) responded to two separate probes by the Office of the US Trade Representative on alleged structural excess capacity in manufacturing sectors and the effectiveness of Singapore’s measures to prevent the import of goods produced with forced labour.
     “The US has enjoyed a consistent trade surplus with Singapore for over 20 years,” MTI said, describing bilateral trade as mutually beneficial and market-driven.
     Singapore is among 60 economies, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and the UK, named in the USTR probe into whether they have taken sufficient steps to prevent the import of goods produced with forced labour.
     In its written submission, MTI stated that Singapore takes a “firm stance” against forced labour and has a comprehensive legal and enforcement framework to address such practices domestically.
     Forced labour is criminalised under the Penal Code, while the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act defines it as a form of exploitation and provides penalties against offenders, according to a Channel News Asia report.
     Relevant Singapore government agencies, including the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Singapore Police Force, investigate complaints alleging any breach of domestic laws, the ministry said.
     Workers can also report suspected abuses through an MOM hotline, non-governmental organisations or to the police, it said.
     Singapore also emphasised its tripartite model, involving the government, employers and unions, as a key pillar of labour protection. This framework ensures that workers are informed of their rights, employers are held accountable, and labour standards are upheld, said MTI.
     Singapore said it is not aware of any goods produced with forced labour that have been exported from Singapore to the US.
     The MTI noted that it has never been named in the US Department of Labour’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labour or Forced Labour since the report was first published in 2009.
     There have also been no instances of US Customs and Border Protection issuing Withhold Release Orders on shipments from Singapore.
     “Moreover, Singapore has cooperated with the US when there have been specific and credible allegations related to forced labour in supply chains that potentially violate US laws, and where such cooperative action is in accordance with Singapore’s domestic laws and relevant international obligations,” the ministry said.
     Singapore imposes zero tariffs on US exports, while bilateral trade and its investments in the US support around 350,000 American jobs, MTI said.
     Singapore is also the third-largest Asian investor in the US, with investment stock reaching USD 71.7 billion in 2025, the ministry added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)