Example in Action: Best Buy’s* Corrective Action Plan

Blurred photo of workers walking into factory
Photo Credit: Adrian Sulyok_Unsplash

Best Buy Co., Inc.—the American consumer electronics retailer—sources products from approximately 185 factories that employ more than 165,000 workers. As part of the vendor contracting process, Best Buy includes standard provisions that prohibit forced labor. This onboarding process includes training on Best Buy’s Supplier Code of Conduct, which is then repeated annually as part of an overall training program and when forced labor is identified during the review process of a particular factory. Best Buy audits approximately 75 percent of its contracted factories over the course of 1 year.

If forced labor conditions are discovered, Best Buy takes actions that include: 

  • Cessation of specific action(s)
  • Completion by the supplier of a Best Buy-approved CAP
  • Payment of wages owed and reimbursement of recruitment fees for workers 
  • Establishment of supplier policy to prevent forced labor and training for relevant employees
  • Reliance on outside partners with expertise on foreign migrant workers and forced labor to conduct training for factory management and staff 
  • Designation of the supplier as high-risk and subjecting the supplier to further due diligence 
  • A lack of compliance and incomplete Best Buy-approved CAP can lead to termination of the contract with the factory. Best Buy also has acknowledged taking steps to engage beyond first-tier suppliers to respond to allegations of forced labor in raw material sourcing and engage smelters who may be sourcing from mines where forced labor may be present 
  • Source: https://corporate.bestbuy.com/forced-labor-not-acceptable/  

DOL welcomes examples of good practices
to address child labor and forced labor.

Email us at GlobalKids@dol.gov.