The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has added shrimp produced in India to its 2024 “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.” This list, maintained by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) and updated biennially, is intended to raise awareness about labor exploitation globally, not to punish specific industries or countries. The inclusion of Indian shrimp follows reports from the Corporate Accountability Lab, the Associated Press, and the Outlaw Ocean Project, which highlighted issues like debt bondage, poor working conditions, and abuse in the shrimp supply chain in Andhra Pradesh. The Southern Shrimp Alliance also requested the inclusion based on these reports. ILAB’s investigation confirmed these findings, noting severe conditions in processing plants, such as exposure to harmful chemicals, overcrowded and unsanitary housing, and forced labor practices. However, Choice Canning, a prominent shrimp processor in India, denied the allegations, asserting that there is no forced labor in their operations and that the term is being misused.
