- On 18 November 2025, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against Firemount Group covering garments, apparel and textiles manufactured in Mauritius. This is the fourth WRO issued in 2025.
- The WRO cites four ILO forced labour indicators: abuse of vulnerability, debt bondage, deception, and intimidation and threats.
- Evidence supporting the WRO included worker interviews, audio recordings, transcripts, NGO reports, media articles and academic research.
- CBP has not disclosed evidence in this case. However, Firemount Group was included in a 2023 investigation by Transparentem on Mauritius’ garment sector.
Key findings
- In it’s 2023 investigation, Transparentem reported the following findings:
- Recruitment fees – Firemount workers reported paying $1,160–3,100 to recruitment agents in their home countries, often financed through debt. Some said they were told to lie about recruitment fees or record false video statements denying payment.
- Deception during recruitment – Workers said agents misled them about wages, food and accommodation deductions, and contract terms. Workers reported being rushed to sign contracts or receiving contracts not written in a language they understood.
- Abusive working and living conditions – Workers described overcrowded dorms, insect infestations, dirty bathrooms, excessive heat, and poor food quality. Several workers reported that complaints about food or conditions resulted in threats of repatriation.
- Intimidation and threats – Workers reported threats of being sent home for mistakes, illness, or attempting to unionise. Some said they felt unable to speak openly to auditors due to fear of retaliation.
- Audit deception and deficiencies – Workers described supervisors selecting which workers could speak to auditors, coaching workers on what to say, or being present during interviews. Several workers said they felt they could not speak freely.
- The report highlighted that Firemount had previously been audited.