First edition

Identification of State-imposed forced labour: guidance for practitioners

This guidance provides practitioners with a practical framework for identifying State-imposed forced labour in line with ILO Conventions Nos. 29 and 105. It explains the legal foundations of State-imposed forced labour, outlines structural risk factors and indicators of coercion, and presents a clear legal test for distinguishing lawful State authority from prohibited practices. The publication also examines common typologies encountered in practice, supporting governments, businesses, workers’ and employers’ organizations, researchers and civil society in assessing risks, conducting due diligence, and strengthening efforts to prevent and address State-imposed forced labour.

State-imposed forced labour require additional approaches for identification beyond those used to detect forced labour in the private sector. This guidance offers practitioners guidance for identifying when State compulsion crosses the line from legitimate public authority into prohibited forced labour under international labour standards. Grounded in the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105), it provides a structured methodology for understanding and identifying forced labour imposed by state authorities.

Developed for government authorities, businesses, workers’ and employers’ organizations, researchers and civil society, the publication explains the normative basis of State-imposed forced labour and introduces practical tools to support identification. It examines the broader national environment that may signal heightened risks, presents indicators of both general forced labour and State-specific coercion, and outlines the legal criteria that distinguish lawful compulsory work from prohibited practices. The guidance also highlights the distinctive mechanisms through which States may compel labour, including legal, administrative and institutional forms of coercion that differ from those typically encountered in private employment relationships.