Labour migration
Workshop on Strengthening Capacity and Coordination on Prevention and Investigation of Trafficking in Persons for Forced Labour
This workshop is held to improve mutual understanding and facilitate effective cooperation and referrals between labour inspectors and criminal law enforcers in investigating labour rights abuses including trafficking in persons.
There is an increasing trend of labour migration in ASEAN. With proper management and respect for the rights of migrant workers, labour migration can significantly contribute to regional economic systems. However, many workers face issues during migration, including being at risk for trafficking in persons, labour exploitation, forced labour, and sexual exploitation.
When encountering an abusive situation in a work place, the first responders – labour inspectors, police or NGO case workers – cannot instantly know the scope of rights violations and abuse suffered, nor which legal remedies are best suited to deliver justice. Depending on the situation, preference of individuals, and available evidence, the best remedy may be under civil, administrative, or criminal law. For this reason, it is necessary that labour inspectors and criminal law enforcers work in close cooperation in handling of such cases. Both labour administration and law enforcement operators should be familiar with each other’s mandates to ensure appropriate referral and coordination in cases of suspected forced labour and human trafficking.
To improve mutual understanding and facilitate effective cooperation between labour inspectors and criminal law enforcers in investigating labour rights abuses, this workshop has the following objectives:
The workshop will be hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW) of the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic with support from the Australian Government, through the Asia Foundation. Technical support is provided by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme, the ASEAN-Australia Counter-Trafficking (ASEAN-ACT) programme, and the Asia Foundation.
When encountering an abusive situation in a work place, the first responders – labour inspectors, police or NGO case workers – cannot instantly know the scope of rights violations and abuse suffered, nor which legal remedies are best suited to deliver justice. Depending on the situation, preference of individuals, and available evidence, the best remedy may be under civil, administrative, or criminal law. For this reason, it is necessary that labour inspectors and criminal law enforcers work in close cooperation in handling of such cases. Both labour administration and law enforcement operators should be familiar with each other’s mandates to ensure appropriate referral and coordination in cases of suspected forced labour and human trafficking.
To improve mutual understanding and facilitate effective cooperation between labour inspectors and criminal law enforcers in investigating labour rights abuses, this workshop has the following objectives:
- Labour inspectors will improve their understanding of law enforcement officials and where their engagement with the criminal justice system should occur, improve their knowledge, as well as strengthening their capacities in preventing and investigating labour rights abuses including on trafficking in persons.
- Participants will understand international and regional definitions of forced labour and trafficking in persons.
- Participants discuss and identify red flags that require referral of a case from labour officials to police and from trafficking police to labour officials.
- Participants identify guidelines and key actions needed to improve cooperation between labour and law enforcement
The workshop will be hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW) of the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic with support from the Australian Government, through the Asia Foundation. Technical support is provided by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme, the ASEAN-Australia Counter-Trafficking (ASEAN-ACT) programme, and the Asia Foundation.