Awareness topic

Warning Signs in Supply Chains

Low prices, opaque suppliers, recruitment fees, rapid subcontracting, and weak remediation can all indicate elevated labor risk.

Overview

Warning signs do not prove exploitation by themselves. They help researchers decide where to look more carefully and what questions to ask.

Key points

Ultra-low prices can create pressure on labor costs.

Opaque subcontracting can hide responsibility.

Audit-only systems may miss worker fear, retaliation, or debt coercion.