The government announced on November 4 that it will propose a law regulating the human rights impacts of companies in the United Kingdom’s global supply chain . The UK’s Corporate Justice Coalition , along with some businesses, have long led advocacy efforts for such legislation. The government’s announcement responds to some of those demands and marks a chance to turn corporate responsibility into meaningful legal obligations.

According to the announcement, the largest businesses operating in the UK would be required to identify, assess, and address human rights abuses and labor exploitation in their operations and supply chains.…