Editor’s Note
This article highlights McGill University’s 2025 report on combating forced and child labor in its supply chains, detailing the institution’s proactive measures and commitment to human rights in procurement.
McGill University has published its 2025 annual report in accordance with the Act to Combat Forced and Child Labor in Supply Chains, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to protecting human rights across all its purchasing activities. The report outlines some of the concrete measures McGill has taken to detect, prevent, and reduce the risks of forced or child labor in its supply chain.
At the heart of this approach is McGill University’s Supplier Code of Conduct, which is an integral part of all contracts and purchase orders and requires suppliers to respect the fundamental principles and rights at work of the International Labour Organization, including the strict prohibition of forced and child labor. Procurement Services applies a risk-based due diligence strategy by targeting business sectors or regions typically associated with potential human rights issues. To mitigate these risks, the University:
– Requires certain “at-risk” suppliers to disclose their own suppliers (upstream in their supply chain) and information on their labor practices;
– Requires certain companies to describe the mechanisms they have put in place to detect and prevent forced and child labor, both in their own operations and in their supply chain;
– Relies on international monitoring initiatives, such as the Responsible Business Alliance, the Fair Labor Association, and the Workers Rights Consortium, and purchases more fair trade certified products;
– Monitors NGO reports, international alerts, media coverage, and sector-specific information to identify emerging risks.
McGill University also contributes to community awareness by designing and disseminating training tools and participating in inter-university initiatives.
By producing this report, the University is meeting a legal requirement, but it is also taking the opportunity to document, plan, and enhance its contribution to combating forced and child labor across its entire supply chain. This annual report has become an essential component of the “social” pillar of responsible procurement activities at McGill. In short:
The annual accountability exercise encourages our team to highlight the extra efforts, as well as the improved tools or processes, we have deployed to reduce social risks. This transparency allows us to identify gaps, refine our approach, and align with global best practices in ethical supply chain management.
The obligation to produce a report lends legitimacy to the targeted questions or specific clauses we include in certain contracts. We now have a solid basis to justify due diligence measures, such as supply chain mapping, and increased engagement with suppliers, including during meetings on risk prevention or mitigation strategies. We can also more effectively communicate our expectations regarding respect for human rights in our supply chain.
Since many universities in Canada and Quebec must produce such annual reports, and a large number of them share the same suppliers, we have built a network of colleagues who collaborate to identify high-risk areas in our supply chains and share effective practices for managing these risks. When universities (as customers) express the same expectations to their suppliers, the message is clearer: such alignment promotes the improvement of market practices and encourages suppliers to better meet our requirements.