REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Canada's corporate ethics watchdog on Thursday announced investigations into the Canadian units of Walmart (WMT.N) and Hugo Boss (BOSSn.DE) to probe allegations of Uyghur forced labor in the companies' supply chains and operations. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) said it had published an initial assessment report after complaints filed by a coalition of 28 civil society organizations in June 2022. CORE will also investigate the Canadian unit of fashion firm Diesel, which is owned by Italy's OTB (OTB.L). In March, a U.N. committee said it was concerned about China's treatment of its Muslim minority, including the use of forced labor against Uyghurs. CORE was launched in 2019 to monitor and investigate human rights abuses, mainly by Canadian garment, mining and oil and gas companies operating abroad.

---

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Hugo Boss, Italy's OTB, Ralph Lauren, RL.N, Sheri Meyerhoffer, CORE's Ombudsperson, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Responsible Enterprise, Diesel, Nike Canada, CORE, Thomson Locations: Rosemead , California, U.S, China