Report on Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, fiscal year 2023–2024: Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD)

What steps has the government institution taken in the previous financial year to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used at any step of the production of goods produced, purchased or distributed by the government institution?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

• Developing and implementing anti-forced labour and/or child labour contractual clauses.
• Developing and implementing anti-forced labour and/or child labour standards, codes of conduct and/or compliance checklists.

Please provide additional information describing the steps taken.

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): DFATD has integrated Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) Code of Conduct for Procurement (the Code) in our purchasing activities to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements. DFATD has integrated PSPC’s updated Standard Instruction for services and goods and General Conditions for services and goods where the Code has been incorporated. The Code applies to all vendors and sub-contractors who respond to bid solicitations and/or provide goods/services to Canada. The Code was updated in May of 2023 to include language specific to Human trafficking, forced labour and child labour.

When DFATD is using pre-competed procurement tool(s) by the Public Service Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Shared Services Canada (SSC) Integrity verification has been performed for vendors. PSPC’s Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements incorporate anti-forced labour clauses enabling PSPC to set aside a Standing Offer or suspend or cancel a Supply Arrangement if there are reasonable grounds to believe that goods or services or a combination of goods and services offered have been produced by forced labour or human trafficking.

Which of the following accurately describes the government institution’s activities?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

Purchasing goods:

• In Canada and outside Canada

Please provide additional information on the government institution’s structure, activities and supply chains.

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): DFATD has integrated Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) Code of Conduct for Procurement (the Code) in our purchasing activities to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements. DFATD has integrated PSPC’s updated Standard Instruction for goods and General Conditions for goods where the Code has been incorporated. The Code applies to all vendors and subcontractors who respond to bid solicitations and/or provide goods and services to Canada. The Code was updated in May of 2023 to include language specific to Human trafficking, forced labour and child labour. DFATD contracting templates incorporate general conditions for goods which form a part of the contract, anti-forced labour requirements are part of the General Conditions.

When DFATD is using pre-competed procurement tool(s) by the Public Service Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Shared Services Canada (SSC) Integrity verification has been performed for vendors. PSPC’s Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements incorporate anti-forced labour clauses enabling PSPC to set aside a Standing Offer or suspend or cancel a Supply Arrangement if there are reasonable grounds to believe that goods or services or a combination of goods and services offered have been produced by forced labour or human trafficking.

Does the government institution currently have policies and due diligence processes in place related to forced labour and/or child labour?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): No.

If yes, which of the following elements of the due diligence process has the government institution implemented in relation to forced labour and/or child labour?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Not applicable.

Please provide additional information on the government institution’s policies and due diligence processes in relation to forced labour and child labour.

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Inclusion of the Code of Conduct for procurement in all contracting templates.

Has the government institution identified parts of its activities and supply chains that carry a risk of forced labour or child labour being used?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): No, we have not started the process of identifying risks.

If yes, has the government institution identified forced labour or child labour risks related to any of the following aspects of its activities and supply chains?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Not applicable

Has the government institution identified forced labour or child labour risks in its activities and supply chains related to any of the following sectors and industries?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): None of the above

Please provide additional information on the parts of the government institution’s activities and supply chains that carry a risk of forced labour or child labour being used, as well as the steps that the government institution has taken to assess and manage that risk.

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): DFATD has integrated Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) Code of Conduct for Procurement (the Code) in our purchasing activities to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements. DFATD has integrated PSPC’s updated Standard Instruction for services and goods and General Conditions for services and goods where the Code has been incorporated. The Code applies to all vendors and sub-contractors who respond to bid solicitations and/or provide goods/services to Canada. The Code was updated in May of 2023 to include language specific to Human trafficking, forced labour and child labour. When DFATD is using pre-competed procurement tool(s) by the Public Service Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Shared Services Canada (SSC) Integrity verification has been performed for vendors. PSPC’s Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements incorporate anti-forced labour clauses enabling PSPC to set aside a Standing Offer or suspend or cancel a Supply Arrangement if there are reasonable grounds to believe that goods or services or a combination of goods and services offered have been produced by forced labour or human trafficking.

Has the government institution taken any measures to remediate any forced labour or child labour in its activities and supply chains?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Not applicable, we have not identified any forced labour or child labour in our activities and supply chains.

If yes, which remediation measures has the government institution taken?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Not applicable.

Please provide additional information on any measures the government institution has taken to remediate any forced labour or child labour.

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Not applicable.

Has the government institution taken any measures to remediate the loss of income to the most vulnerable families that results from any measure taken to eliminate the use of forced labour or child labour in its activities and supply chains?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Not applicable, we have not identified any loss of income to vulnerable families resulting from measures taken to eliminate the use of forced labour or child labour in our activities and supply chains.

Please provide additional information on any measures the government institution has taken to remediate the loss of income to the most vulnerable families that results from any measure taken to eliminate the use of forced labour or child labour in its activities and supply chains.

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Not applicable.

Does the government institution currently provide training to employees on forced labour and/or child labour?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Yes.

If yes, is the training mandatory?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): No, the training is voluntary.

Please provide additional information on the training the government institution provides to employees on forced labour and child labour. 

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): This information session was offered by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the Canadian Institute for Procurement and Material Management (CIPMM) and they have organised webinars as part of the round table series partnership. Round table five (5) information session covered ethical procurement, focusing specifically on human rights aspects and highlighted the initiatives and policies of PSPC in reinforcing ethical standards in government procurement. DFATD’s Procurement Centres of Expertise were encouraged to attend.

Does the government institution currently have policies and procedures in place to assess its effectiveness in ensuring that forced labour and child labour are not being used in its activities and supply chains?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): No.

If yes, what method does the government institution use to assess its effectiveness?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): Not applicable.

Please provide additional information on how the government institution assesses its effectiveness in ensuring that forced labour and child labour are not being used in its activities and supply chains.

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD): DFATD has integrated Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) Code of Conduct for Procurement (the Code) in our purchasing activities to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements. DFATD has integrated PSPC’s updated Standard Instruction for goods and General Conditions for goods where the Code has been incorporated. The Code applies to all vendors and subcontractors who respond to bid solicitations and/or provide goods and services to Canada. The Code was updated in May of 2023 to include language specific to Human trafficking, forced labour and child labour. DFATD contracting templates incorporate general conditions for goods which form a part of the contract, anti-forced labour requirements are part of the General Conditions.

When DFATD is using pre-competed procurement tool(s) by the Public Service Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Shared Services Canada (SSC) Integrity verification has been performed for vendors. PSPC’s Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements incorporate anti-forced labour clauses enabling PSPC to set aside a Standing Offer or suspend or cancel a Supply Arrangement if there are reasonable grounds to believe that goods or services or a combination of goods and services offered have been produced by forced labour or human trafficking.