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ILO labour standards on forced labour

More information on international labour standards on forced labour

Forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking

Landmark Forced Labour Protocol enters into force

"Ratifying countries are now obliged to implement the treaty and report on measures taken." Committee on Forced Labour, ILC 2014.
Sign up to end modern slavery

24.9 million people in forced labour. $150 billion in illegal profits. Support the international treaty to end modern slavery for good.
Lured by a job, trapped in forced labour

In search of a job to support his family, a man accepts an offer from a recruiter and signs a contract for what looks like a good job with decent wages. Once at destination, the reality is very different.
Fair recruitment Initiative

There are 232 million international migrants and 740 million internal migrants. Most are migrating in search of decent employment and a better livelihood.
Migrant workers who borrow money from third parties face an increased risk of being in forced labour.
Alliance 8.7: For a world without forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour

About 24.9 million people globally are victims of forced labour. Some 152 million children are in child labour, about half in its worst forms, primarily hazardous work. Alliance 8.7 is a coalition committed to accelerating and intensifying actions to tackle this problem and achieve Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7.

Facts and figures

At any given time in 2016, an estimated 40.3 million people are in modern slavery, including 24.9 million in forced labour and 15.4 million in forced marriage.
It means there are 5.4 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people in the world.
1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.
Out of the 24.9 million people trapped in forced labour, 16 million people are exploited in the private sector such as domestic work, construction or agriculture; 4.8 million persons in forced sexual exploitation, and 4 million persons in forced labour imposed by state authorities.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour, accounting for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% in other sectors

Source: Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage, Geneva, September 2017.

News

Forced labour

Justices of the Peace, allies in the fight against forced labour in Peru

17 February 2020
© ILO 2020

Forced and child labour

Forced and child labour in Uzbek cotton fields continues to fall

05 February 2020
Forced labour

Video: Combatting Forced Labour in the Thai Fishing and Seafood Industry

06 January 2020
Forced Labour

New Zealand renews commitment toward the elimination of forced labour

16 December 2019

Focus on

The global initiative for Fair Recruitment
2030 Agenda for sustainable development

Towards target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and end child labour in all its forms

It's time to ratify the ILO's Forced Labour Protocol

The new legally-binding ILO Protocol on Forced Labour aims to strengthen global efforts towards combating forced labour, trafficking and slavery-like practices. Governments now have the opportunity to ratify the Protocol and integrate new measures at the national and regional levels to combat this crime.
1. ILO videos on forced labour
2. ILO photos on forced labour

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50 for Freedom Campaign: Make a stand against modern slavery

Publications

Publication

Presence of human trafficking and forced labour in labour migration - Sri Lanka

04 December 2019
Technical Report

Technical Paper

12 November 2019
Report

Ending child labour, forced labour and human trafficking in global supply chains

12 November 2019

ILO Flagship programme

International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour and Forced Labour (IPEC+)

In line with Sustainable Development Target 8.7, IPEC+ focuses on the elimination of child labour in all its forms by 2025 and the eradication of forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking by 2030.
ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour

Driving action, scale and sustainability through collaboration

2017 Global Estimates of Modern Slavery

Forced Labour and Forced Marriage

The report focus on two main issues: forced labour and forced marriage. The estimate of forced labour comprises forced labour in the private economy, forced sexual exploitation of adults and commercial sexual exploitation of children, and state-imposed forced labour. It is the result of a collaborative effort between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Walk Free Foundation, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). They benefited from inputs provided by other UN agencies, in particular the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
- Full Report
- Executive Summary
- FAQs
- Regional Briefs: Africa, Americas, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia
- Methodology
- Press Release
World Report

Ending forced labour by 2030: A review of policies and programmes

The latest Global Estimates indicate that 25 million people are in forced labour globally. How can the world community get firmly on track toward eliminating forced labour? This report points the way with policy approaches and responses.
Report

Ending child labour, forced labour and human trafficking in global supply chains

The report presents research findings and recommendations on child labour, forced labour and human trafficking in global supply chains. Jointly authored by the ILO, OECD, IOM and UNICEF under the aegis of Alliance 8.7, the report also represents the first ever attempt to measure these human rights abuses and violations on a large scale.
International Standard

Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930

The new legally binding ILO Protocol on Forced Labour aims to advance prevention, protection and compensation measures, as well as to intensify efforts to eliminate contemporary forms of slavery.

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