CPG Director Henning Glaser recently spoke at the international conference “Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Combating Human Trafficking and Enhancing Protection for Women and Children,” hosted by the Faculty of Law of Sultan Agung Islamic University (UNISSULA) in Semarang, Indonesia.
His presentation, “Forced Labor, Human Trafficking and Market Access: Implications of the EU Forced Labor Regulation and the U.S. Tariff Turn for Indonesia,” examined how two distinct developments are changing the conditions under which Indonesian companies operate in major international markets. While the EU Forced Labour Regulation introduces new market-access and compliance requirements linked to forced labor risks, the recent U.S. tariff turn reflects a broader shift toward the strategic use of trade policy, including measures justified by allegations of forced labor in supply chains. Although they follow different regulatory and political logics, both developments have significant implications for export competitiveness, investment decisions and Indonesia’s broader economic environment.
Against this background, Henning Glaser explored how Indonesia’s ongoing reforms in the field of human trafficking could be linked more closely to emerging market-access requirements. A more integrated approach could strengthen protections against forced labor and human trafficking while helping businesses and institutions respond more effectively to changing international expectations.
The presentation also placed these developments in a broader regional context. As the business environment becomes more complex and increasingly shaped by geopolitical and regulatory pressures, stronger compliance structures will become essential across Southeast Asia. This will require companies to build more robust internal capacities while legal, economic and advisory professions develop the expertise and services needed to support them. In many ASEAN markets, these structures are still evolving, making compliance one of the major fields of institutional and professional development in the years ahead.
The conference included keynote contributions by Prof. Dr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections, and Brigadier General of Police Dr. Nurul Azizah, representing Inspector General of Police Prof. Dr. Dedi Prasetyo, Vice Chief of the Indonesian National Police.
CPG thanks the Faculty of Law of UNISSULA, a long-standing and valued institutional partner, for the invitation and the opportunity to contribute to the timely exchange.