Import bans can help tackle forced labour

GENEVA (ILO News) – A new ILO brief finds that import bans can play a role in tackling forced labour, especially when accompanied by policies that address underlying structural issues.

Forced labour remains a major global challenge, with ILO estimates showing rising numbers of affected people and increasing illegal profits. In response, several economies – the United States, Canada, Mexico and the European Union – have introduced import bans targeting goods produced with forced labour.

The ILO brief, The Potential of Import Bans to Address Forced Labour, examines whether import bans on goods produced with forced labour can help reduce labour rights abuses in the global economy. Drawing on two case studies, the brief finds that import bans can, in some cases, contribute to remedial action and generate momentum for change. Evidence also suggests that company-level social dialogue can help resolve the issues that triggered the ban.

At the same time, the analysis emphasizes that import bans alone are unlikely to address the structural factors driving forced labour. It underscores the importance of complementary measures – including effective labour regulation, social dialogue and engagement with local stakeholders – and calls for further research to better understand the impacts of import bans on workers and enterprises across different contexts.

This brief was developed under the project “Trade and Investment Arrangements: Implementation and Stakeholder Engagement for Promoting Decent Work” (IMPLEMENT), which is funded and supported by the Government of Flanders, Belgium.