Published on 01 July 2026.

Forced Labour at Needle Craft, Jordan - 2026

In June 2026, U.S. authorities banned imports of garments produced by the Jordan-based manufacturers Needle Craft Ltd. and Casual Wear Apparel LLC due to evidence of forced labour.

Textile factory, Jordan

ILO / Jared Kohler

On 23 June 2026, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued two Withhold Release Orders (WROs) against garments produced by Needle Craft Ltd. and Casual Wear Apparel LLC (JO2020314A43ZB0) in Jordan. These orders require U.S. authorities to detain goods from these factories at all ports of entry, effectively banning their import into the United States.

The decision followed a CBP investigation that found reasonable evidence of forced labour in both facilities. According to the agency, workers were subjected to seven of the eleven indicators of forced labour as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO):

confiscation of identity documents;
excessive overtime;
intimidation and threats;
physical and sexual violence;
withholding of wages;
restriction of movement;
abusive living and working conditions.

These findings are based on a wide range of evidence sources, including worker testimonies, NGO reports, government documents, and media investigations. Investigations published by ipaper further revealed that migrant workers from Bangladesh at Needle Craft had their passports confiscated, were paid less than promised, were penalised for failing to meet production targets, and were required to work shifts of up to 16 hours seven days a week. Investigative reporting also revealed that both factories are linked to American brands like Under Armour and Columbia. In at least one earlier reported case, abusive working conditions were allegedly associated with the death by suicide of a migrant worker, which triggered international concern and prompted brands to initiate investigations.

Overall, the case illustrates ongoing structural risks in global garment supply chains, particularly for migrant workers in export-oriented manufacturing hubs. It underscores the need for stronger legal enforcement of labour standards, independent monitoring, and effective grievance and remediation mechanisms to prevent severe human rights violations.

About WROs

The WROs constitute a powerful enforcement mechanism under U.S. law (Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930), which prohibits the importation of goods made wholly or in part with forced labour. As a result, affected shipments must either be re-exported, destroyed, or proven to be free from forced labour before entering the U.S. market. There is a risk that products barred from the U.S. market may be redirected to other markets, such as the European Union, where a comparable import ban is not yet in force. Such a ban in the EU is only expected to take effect in December 2027.

About the companies

Needle Craft and Casual Wear Clothing LLC are operated by Needle Craft Clothing Industry. Both are suppliers to major international apparel brands. According to its own website Needle Craft Clothing Industry is Jordans leading apparel group. According to Open Supply Hub Casual Wear has 1.571 employees and Needle Craft up to 5.000.

According to a recent Open Supply Hub entry (February 2026), Columbia Sportswear Company sources in both factories. Under Armour mentioned both factories as a supplier in 2022. In Germany, products of both brands are being sold for example by Zalando and other digital market places as well as in stationary retail.