From Ellie Finkelstein, Freedom United 

Not long ago, thanks to our collective call, the European Union made history. It agreed to a groundbreaking law—the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)—to finally hold big companies accountable for forced labor, child exploitation, and environmental destruction in their global supply chains.   Freedom United supporters joined others to make that victory possible.[1] From urging the EU to include living income and fair purchasing practices in the law, to mobilizing thousands of messages to key decision-makers, your voice was crucial.

But right now, that progress is under threat.

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In the past few months, the EU has quietly launched a “simplification” process that would amend the CSDDD even after its adoption. This sounds harmless but we know that the consequences look to be devastating.[2]  
 

Although the CSDDD became law in 2024, it hasn’t yet been implemented. And leaders in Germany and France, as well as US business groups and banks, are among those lobbying to weaken the protections we fought for before they even take effect!  
 
Originally, just 16,000 companies would have been required to identify and prevent exploitation in their supply chains. However, under the proposed “simplifications,” that number could further drop to around 5,000. And there are an estimated 33 million active companies across Europe![3]  

This means that major brands in fashion, agriculture, and electronics—industries where exploitation is most common—are likely to now be exempt. 

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Let’s be clear: this isn’t simplification—it’s sabotage of one of the world’s most important laws on progress for corporate accountability to help end modern slavery.  

By sliding back, the EU is effectively sending the message that exploitation is just another cost of doing business. 

But we can still stop this backslide. There’s still time to fight back!The proposed rollbacks are now being debated in the European Parliament and Council, where lawmakers can reject or amend these changes before they take effect.  

By adding your name, you’re telling decision-makers to defend a strong, enforceable directive that puts people before profit. 

Add your name

Call on EU leaders to defend the CSDDD and hold corporations accountable for human rights abuses. 

Every signature tells the EU that we won’t stand by while corporations profit from exploitation. Together, we can make sure the EU lives up to its promise of protecting people, not just profits. 
 

In solidarity, 

Ellie and the team supporting the Freedom United community.

Ellie Finkelstein Campaigner and News Editor, Freedom United

[1] https://www.freedomunited.org/wins/success-e-u-approves-critical-forced-labor-bill/ ; https://www.freedomunited.org/wins/we-did-it-living-income-victory-for-cocoa-farmers/
[2]  https://www.freedomunited.org/news/accountability-legislation-under-threat/
[3] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Business_demography_statistics#:~:text=all%20EU%20countries.-,General%20overview,and%20Germany%20(3.2%20million)

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