U.S. Senate Inquires About Child Labor in Supply Chains of Companies
Good morning! It's the end of the week and we made it - time to celebrate with a hot cup of coffee and some fresh supply chain news. From the latest logistics trends to industry insights and everything in between, we've got your daily dose of all things supply chain. So sit back, relax, and let's kickstart this Friday with a bang! ☕️
———
The U.S. Senate is questioning over 25 major American companies about their potential involvement in the exploitation of children within their supply chains. It has been alleged that these large corporations use migrant children to work for lower wages, which is a violation of laws aimed at eradicating child labor. The Senate has issued a letter to CEOs and owners of prominent brands like Target, Walmart, PepsiCo, and others, inquiring about their corporate practices and contractor hiring procedures. The letter contains six specific questions addressed directly to the companies.
Read today's featured article from Supply Chain Dive to learn about the Senate's investigation and what their findings could mean for these major retailers. Will the U.S. Senate expose even more incidents of unethical labor practices in the supply chains of the companies we frequently rely on?
Featured Article:
Senators press major retailers, brands on child labor in supply chains | Supply Chain Dive
“Sens. Alex Padilla and John Hickenlooper questioned Walmart, Target, Ford, GM, and others about their compliance practices after reports of exploitation in the U.S.”
Fuel & Electric Vehicles 🔋
Purchasing a Gas-Powered Car May Be Easier a Decade From Now Than You Think
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently unveiled more robust proposed regulations for emissions from vehicles. The agency anticipates that by 2032, nearly two-thirds of light-duty vehicle sales will be electric, with about half of the sales of medium-duty vehicles being electric as well. However, the EPA has emphasized that people who are not yet ready to make the switch to electric cars will still be able to purchase gas vehicles for many years to come.
The EPA forecasts that one out of every three new vehicles sold in the United States in 2032 will be gas, indicating that 4.5 million new gas cars are expected to be sold in the United States in 2032. When compared to today's figures, in which roughly one out of every four cars sold in the United States is a sedan or wagon, the EPA predicts that gas cars will be more popular than sedans in 2032, when it is still feasible to walk into most auto dealerships and buy a sedan.
Labor Issues & Safety Protocols 🚧
Annual Job-Related Injuries Send Nearly 60,000 Teenage Workers to Emergency Rooms
Approximately 1.6 million teenagers in the United States have jobs, and on average, every nine minutes, a teen worker is injured on the job. Furthermore, each year, approximately 59,800 workers under 18 years of age are sent to the emergency room for job-related injuries, while an average of 37 workers under 18 years old die on the job annually. To prevent these injuries, parents can help teenagers assert their rights to a safe work environment by encouraging them to ask questions if they feel their health or safety is at risk.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIAH) has partnered with The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to create Safety Matters, a free, one-hour program for students in grades 7 through 12. The interactive teaching module will educate participants on safety procedures, how to identify potential dangerous situations on the job, and how to better communicate with co-workers.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
🚢 North America is a Growing Attraction for Manufacturers Looking For Security. North America is increasingly becoming a preferred location for manufacturers seeking greater security and flexibility in their supply chain. This shift in focus is due to companies reevaluating their long-standing sourcing strategies and recognizing the need to adapt to changing market conditions. With a regional-based product pipeline, companies can be more agile and better able to respond to changing consumer demand, reducing lead times and costs associated with transportation and logistics.
❌ The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is Forcing Supply Chains to Pay Attention. By conducting rigorous due diligence, comprehending their supply chains thoroughly, and utilizing appropriate technology, importers can play their role in combating human rights violations across the world. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is a law in the United States that aims to prohibit imports of goods produced using forced labor in the Xinjiang region of China. It seeks to ensure that U.S. companies are not complicit in the use of forced labor in the supply chains of products originating from Xinjiang.
🇮🇳 "India's Strategy to Position Itself as a Supply Chain Option to China. India is encouraging companies looking to reduce their dependence on Chinese goods to source from its growing manufacturing sector, which it hopes will help make it a bigger player in global supply chains. The government is using production-linked incentive schemes to support 13 manufacturing sectors, such as semiconductors, in a bid to create national manufacturing champions. India's finance minister has said the schemes are "bringing global value chains into India," and that they will enable it to create bulk-manufactured goods that can be exported around the world.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🤔 Is Sidewalk Delivery Feasible? The development of robot sidewalk delivery by Amazon and FedEx has been in its early stages for years, even gaining some notoriety on late-night talk shows in 2019. However, despite the attention, it has not been advanced enough to be fully deployed and expected to function effectively.
🤑 Dramatic Drop in Wholesale Prices. Since March of this year, wholesale prices have significantly dropped from pandemic highs. Wholesale product prices are currently down by almost 2% compared to the same time last year.
👨🏻🔧 Biden Administration Repairs Bridge Infrastructure. Over the last three weeks, President Joe Biden has been concentrating on replacing bridges throughout the United States by providing over $300 million in funding. This effort is underway as many anticipate his announcement of a potential candidacy for the 2024 election against Donald Trump.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🚛 Ranking the Best 100 Truck Stops in 2022. Trucker Path has revealed its top picks for the best truck stops of 2022, utilizing its mobile app and over 8.5 million ratings from truckers. While some places have maintained their positions from the previous year, there are a few new stops that have outperformed the previous ones. The truck stop that has won the hearts of truckers across the board is Kwik Star #1071 in Davenport, Iowa.
💰 Triton to be Acquired by Brookfield Infrastructure for nearly $5 Billion. In order to expand its transportation logistics business (which supports the global supply chain) Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP has agreed to acquire Triton International Ltd. for $4.7 billion. The deal, which requires approval from Triton shareholders and regulators, is projected to be concluded in Q4 2023. The acquisition, which includes debt, is worth $13.3 billion, according to reports.
🏗️ Trending: Construction of United States Factories. US factory construction spending has surged from under $80 billion in 2021 to $108 billion in 2022, indicating a possible move to re-shore US manufacturing. Some of the construction is focused on high-tech fields such as electric-vehicle batteries and semiconductors, backed by government incentives worth billions of dollars. Meanwhile, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs were added in the past two years, bringing the total to around 13 million.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 28, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.