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Switzerland behind in labour laws

Tuesday, 25 August 2026 06:35

Switzerland is falling behind the European Union in tackling forced labour, La Liberté argues in a new analysis.

Unlike the EU, Switzerland does not ban the import of goods made using forced labour, relying instead on longstanding international standards.

The Swiss NGO Public Eye says that framework is not enough — particularly in commodity supply chains for coffee, cocoa and gold, where the risk of forced labour is highest.

The debate has been sharpened by a jab from US President Donald Trump, who has publicly accused Switzerland of being too soft on the issue. The question now is whether Bern will move closer to the tougher European approach.

 

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