The U.S. Department of Labor is warning American businesses and individuals to be aware when doing business with the Sudanese government.
The Departments of the Treasury, State and Commerce recently released a business advisory on Sudan, aimed at calling attention to the growing reputational risks to American businesses and individuals conducting business with Sudanese state-owned enterprises and military-controlled companies, according to a May 23 news release.
“In places where democracy is in peril, the absence of worker protections can lead to the most egregious labor abuses,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said in the release. “Today’s business advisory on Sudan alerts U.S.-based businesses of the risks of doing business with enterprises and companies owned or controlled by the Sudanese government or its military. The advisory also reminds businesses that dealing with corrupt and violent military-controlled governments props them up and allows labor and human right abuses to continue.”
Government officials noted the risks arise from recent actions undertaken by Sudan’s government ranging from using violence to suppress protests and committing other human rights abuses, according to the release. While some of the conditions have existed before the country’s October 2021 military takeover, government officials add actions by the Sudanese security forces since then have only expanded the risks and could unfavorably impact U.S. businesses, individuals and others and their operations in Sudan and the region.
Walsh added the advisory is meant to remind businesses that dealing with corrupt and violent military-controlled governments only serve to help sustain them “and allows labor and human rights abuses to continue,” the release reported.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs List of Goods Produced With Child Labor or Forced Labor is meant to help businesses review their supply chains and stay up to code, according to the release. Gold coming in from Sudan is on the list as a good produced by child labor.
