About SourcingStrong
SourcingStrong helps U.S. companies of all sizes strengthen their labor due diligence systems to prevent and address the risks of labor abuses in their supply chains abroad and stay ahead of costly risks. With U.S. laws prohibiting the importation - as well as federal procurement- of goods made with forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor, businesses that fail to assess their supply chains risk not only reputational damage but also losing access to the American market.
Developed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), SourcingStrong is a practical self-assessment tool for companies that want to safeguard their supply chains, protect their brand, and make sure they are meeting U.S. and international legal requirements. By using SourcingStrong, companies can build or improve labor due diligence systems that:
Prevent costly violations of trade laws in the United States and around the world.
Help American workers win by making global competition fair.
Safeguard company reputation in the eyes of consumers, investors, and regulators.
A Risk Management Framework for U.S. Companies
SourcingStrong provides a clear, eight-step framework that businesses can use to self-assess risks and take action before problems escalate. It draws on the U.S. government’s extensive research and policy work on working conditions in global supply chains, including forced labor and the worst forms of child labor, ensuring companies have reliable guidance grounded in U.S. law and policy as well as regulations abroad for global operations.
This framework is also aligned with U.S. priorities to ensure fair trade and level the playing field for American workers and businesses that play by the rules. Companies that ignore these standards not only face reputational fallout but risk trade restrictions and long-term damage to their operations.
The Value of Worker Engagement
SourcingStrong recognizes that one of the most effective ways to ensure robust and effective labor due diligence is for employers to engage their workforce. By doing so, companies gain access to the most credible, verifiable information about the risks in their supply chains. This approach helps businesses:
Detect and address labor violations early.
Reduce exposure to reputational and financial damage.
Build resilience against costly disruptions that threaten supply security.
Why U.S. Businesses Should Act Now
In today’s environment, companies cannot afford to be reactive. Global scrutiny of labor practices is only increasing, and regulators in the U.S. and around the world are stepping up enforcement. Businesses that fail to act risk being left behind.
By adopting SourcingStrong’s self-assessment practices, companies send a strong signal: they are committed to meeting legal standards, championing American workers, and ensuring their supply chains are free of forced or child labor.
SourcingStrong is more than a labor due diligence tool—it’s a business safeguard. It contributes to protecting your license to operate in lucrative markets around the world, shielding your valuable brand from reputational harm, and ensuring that American businesses and workers aren’t forced to compete against goods made with cheap, exploited labor.
How Do I Use SourcingStrong?
SourcingStrong provides steps to build or improve a labor due diligence system. It is intended for use by both multinational corporations and small- and medium-sized enterprises to understand the role each can play in rooting out labor abuses from global supply chains.
If you see a good practice that is missing, please share it with us by e-mailing ILAB at GlobalKids@dol.gov.
Disclaimers
The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way.
Important Notice
All references to specific companies and non-governmental entities within this guide are for informational purposes only to demonstrate good practices. References to these entities should not be interpreted as an official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor of those entities, their products, or services, and their inclusion should not be interpreted as a comprehensive review of these entities’ practices in all areas.
ILAB has chosen to highlight certain companies’ practices in SourcingStrong based on an extensive literature review and engagement in labor-due-diligence-focused forums. These companies have shown good practice in one or more areas of the tool’s “Steps.” These examples are illustrative and not exhaustive. Many other companies have also developed, or are developing, good practices in these areas that could also be shared. These examples are also snapshots in time, and ILAB recognizes that companies’ practices may change. ILAB welcomes input from the public on additional company strategies and practices that could be highlighted in SourcingStrong.
This tool was developed for USDOL/ILAB. You may incorporate content from this tool into your own materials with attribution to the Department of Labor’s SourcingStrongTool.
