Topic portal
Forced labour, modern slavery and trafficking in persons
Forced labour is a severe violation of human rights affecting 27.6 million of men, women and children in all countries and all economic sectors. It is rooted in poverty, discrimination and lack of social protection, and it disrupts fair competition between businesses. The issue has been at the heart of the ILO mandate to promote Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, leaving no one behind.
Highlights
What is forced labour?
Key resources on forced labour
Our impact, their voices
Forced Labour Observatory
Facts and figures
63%
of forced labour happens in the private economy
International Labour Standards on Forced Labour
The Forced Labour Convention (No. 29), adopted in 1930, contains the definition of forced labour and provides that it should be punished as a crime. This is one of the most ratified ILO standards.
The Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105), adopted in 1957, deals with state-imposed forms of forced labour. This is one of the most ratified ILO standards.
The Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, (P029), adopted in 2014, requires ratifying countries to take effective measures to prevent forced labour, protect victims and ensure their access to justice.
The Protocol complements the Convention No. 29, therefore only countries that have ratified this Convention can ratify the Protocol.
The Forced Labour Recommendation (No. 203), adopted in 2014, provides further guidance on how to implement the Protocol.
It is a non-binding document that does not require ratification.
What can the ILO offer and how?
- Eradicating Forced Labour: Partnering strategically with ILO
- Good practices in addressing Forced Labour (forthcoming)
- Developing National Action Plans on Forced Labour
Focus on
The Fair Recruitment Initiative
The ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour
8.7 Accelerator Lab
News and articles
International Migrants Day
ILO announces winners of the 10th edition of the global media competition on labour migration
Ecuadorian inspectors and authorities train to identify forced labour on fishing vessels
Publications
Celebrating 10 years of progress
Fair Recruitment Initiative: Paving the way for decent work
Fair recruitment
Recruitment fees and related costs at a glance
Fair recruitment
Global study on recruitment fees and related costs: Second edition
Projects
Social safety nets
ILO/Japan Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific (SSN Fund)
Child Labour and Forced Labour
CAPSA - Capacity Strengthening of Governments to Address Child Labour and Forced Labour and Violations of Acceptable Conditions of Work in...