ILO publications

2012

1. Buried in bricks: A rapid assessment of bonded labour in brick kilns in Afghanistan

   06 February 2012

   This study provides an accurate depiction of bonded labour in brick kilns in two provinces of Afghanistan (Kabul and Nangarhar), to illustrate the demand and supply-side of one of the most prevalent, yet least known, forms of hazardous labour in Afghanistan.

2011

1. The good practices of labour inspection in Brazil: the eradication of labour analogous to slavery

   15 April 2011

   This publication was produced under the framework of technical cooperation undertaken between the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Secretariat of Labour Inspection (SIT). This partnership is embodied in the collection “The Good Practices of Labour Inspection in Brazil,” comprised of four publications on the labour inspection system in Brazil and the Brazilian labour inspection experiences in the following areas: eradication of child labour; combating forced labour; and the maritime sector. The eradication of labour analogous to slavery is today one of the main objectives of the Brazilian agenda for the promotion of human rights. This document presents a synthesis of labour inspection actions of the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MTE), in cooperation with governmental partners, employer associations, workers’ unions and civil society organizations in the fi ght against this extreme form of labour exploitation.

2. SAP-FL Newsletter: Issue 2 - 2011

   15 February 2011

   Newsletter prepared by the ILO Special Action Programme to combat forced labour. Second issue 2011

2010

1. SAP-FL Newsletter: Issue 1 - 2010

   10 July 2010

   Newsletter prepared by the ILO Special Action Programme to combat forced labour. First issue 2010

2. 

   Concealed chains: Labour exploitation and Chinese migrants in Europe

   28 January 2010

   This groundbreaking book exposes the hidden world of Chinese irregular migrants in three European countries: France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Chinese workers migrating to Europe pay huge sums of money to intermediaries, often leaving them trapped in debt before they even begin their journey.

2009

1. Trade unions and indigenous communities combating forced labour in the Peruvian Amazon region

   15 December 2009

   Case study prepared by Sanna Saarto, ILO’s Programme to Combat Forced Labour, Peru, for the guide to ILO Convention No. 169 “Indigenous and tribal peoples’ rights in practice”, Geneva, ILO, 2009.

2. Labour migration and the emergence of private employment agencies in Tajikistan: A review of current law and practice

   01 December 2009

   Joint publication of the International Labour Organization and the International Organisation for Migration. This study is the first in-depth analysis of the normative framework regulating PrEAs in Tajikistan. It also describes practical experiences of the industry including various abusive practices that require the attention of law makers.

3. Preventing Forced Labour Exploitation and Promoting Good Labour Practices in the Russian Construction Industry

   20 October 2009

   Joint report: International Labour Organization and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The report should be seen as an initial attempt to analyse labour conditions in Russia’s construction sector and to discuss the feasibility of using the elements of corporate responsibility as tools to address some of the deficiencies, especially related to labour rights and the exploitation of migrant workers.

4. Executive Summary "Forced labour: Coercion and exploitation in the private economy"

   19 August 2009

   This co-publication by the ILO and Lynne Rienner is based on more than six years of research and features case studies from Latin America, South Asia, Africa and Europe.

5. Fighting forced labour: the example of Brazil

   15 July 2009

   For some fifteen years, since a new inter-ministerial body was created in 1995 to coordinate action against forced labour, Brazil has been addressing the problem with vigour and determination. It has done so in many ways, involving different government agencies, employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society, the media, academic organizations and others.

6. Recruitment of Pakistani Workers for Overseas Employment: Mechanisms, Exploitation and Vulnerabilities

   01 July 2009

   This study in Pakistan was commissioned against the backdrop of growing concern globally about the particular vulnerability of both regular and irregular migrant workers to exploitation, trafficking and forced labour. It was undertaken to inform dialogue between Asian sender and Middle Eastern destination countries, at a Gulf Forum on Temporary Contractual Labour held in Abu Dhabi in early 2008, along with a sister study addressing similar questions in Bangladesh.

7. Unravelling the vicious cycle of recruitment

   29 May 2009

   This study in Bangladesh was commissioned against the backdrop of growing concern globally about the particular vulnerability of both regular and irregular migrant workers to exploitation, trafficking and forced labour. It was undertaken to inform dialogue between Asian sender and Middle Eastern destination countries, at a Gulf Forum on Temporary Contractual Labour, held in Abu Dhabi in early 2008, along with a sister study addressing similar questions in Pakistan. While provisional findings were first presented at that time, we are now pleased to publish the full findings of the research, following the launch of the ILO’s third global report on forced labour, entitled “The cost of coercion” on 12 May 2009.

8. 

   The cost of coercion

   12 May 2009

   Forced labour is the antithesis of decent work. The least protected persons, including women and youth, indigenous peoples, and migrant workers, are particularly vulnerable. Modern forced labour can be eradicated with a sustained commitment and resources.

9. Forced Labour and Human Trafficking: Casebook of Court Decisions

   06 May 2009

   This training manual for judges, prosecutors and legal practitioners

2008

1. Forced labour and human trafficking: A toolkit for trade unions in Zambia

   01 November 2008

   This toolkit was developed in collaboration with trade unions in Zambia. It aims to provide practical guidance and suggestions that will allow trade union officers and members to recognize forced labour and to take action to prevent it and assist its victims.

2. Forced labour and human trafficking: Guidelines for labour officers in Zambia

   01 November 2008

   To win the war on forced labour, labour inspectors and other law enforcement officers need the right tools. They need to have a stronger grasp of the concepts, and indicators of possible forced labour situations. This is the role that these guidelines will play.

3. Combating forced labour: A handbook for employers and business

   22 October 2008

   This handbook provides guidance material and tools for employers and business to strengthen their capacity to address the risk of forced labour and human trafficking in their own operations and in global supply chains.

4. Investigating forced labour and trafficking: Do they exist in Zambia?

   24 September 2008

   This research project was undertaken in response to an approach by the Zambian Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) to the International Labour Office (ILO) to request assistance to look into the possible existence of forced labour practices in Zambia. In particular, MLSS had become concerned about the practices of some recruitment agencies, which were acting as ‘labour brokers’ in the mining sector. These agencies were thought to be exploiting jobseekers after they had been placed into employment, by retaining a significant part of their wages as a placement fee. MLSS’ concern arose following the lodging of complaints by workers over non-payment of terminal benefits, with neither the client company nor the recruitment agency accepting responsibility for the payment.

5. 

   Forced labour and human trafficking: handbook for labour inspectors

   01 August 2008

   The handbook is a tool for training. It seeks both to inform labour inspectors of the facts and trends of modern forced labour and the challenges before them, and to promote discussion as to how labour inspectorates worldwide could be harnessed more effectively to global efforts against forced labour and trafficking.

6. Human Trafficking And Forced Labour - Case studies and responses from Portugal

   01 May 2008

   The objective of the book is to study the phenomena of labour exploitation and forced labour to which immigrants and, in particular, victims of human trafficking, are subjected in Portugal. It also sheds light on the treatment of Portuguese emigrants in select destination countries.