Following investigations into Nike Canada and Canadian mining company Dynasty Gold last month, the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) has initiated an inquiry into

Ralph Lauren's Canadian division over allegations of utilizing forced labor from China's Uyghur minority.

A coalition of 28 civil society organizations submitted a complaint to the watchdog last year, asserting that "Ralph Lauren Canada has business ties with Chinese entities that engage in or benefit from the use of Uyghur forced labor."

Sheri Meyerhoffer, the ombudsperson, announced, "I have determined that the complaint against Ralph Lauren warrants a thorough investigation." Meyerhoffer noted that the brand's US parent company disputes the jurisdiction of Canada in this matter, contending that its subsidiary does not make decisions independently and that all operations are supervised by the US headquarters.

The Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project based in Ottawa welcomed the investigation, affirming, "Credible evidence indicates that Ralph Lauren is connected to numerous Chinese entities employing Uyghur forced labor within their supply chains."

Numerous human rights organizations assert that over a million Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities have been confined in re-education camps in China's Xinjiang region, where they face a range of abuses, including coerced labor.

Western lawmakers, including those in Canada, have labeled the actions in Xinjiang as genocide. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has characterized the treatment of Uyghurs as crimes against humanity. Beijing refutes these allegations, portraying the facilities as vocational centers aimed at countering extremism. Photo by YES Network, Wikimedia commons.