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Topic portal

Forced labour, modern slavery and trafficking in persons

ILO Bridge project, Nepal © ILO

Forced labour is a severe violation of human rights affecting 28 million of men, women and children in all countries and all economic sectors. It is rooted in poverty, discrimination and lack of social protection, and it disrupts fair competition between businesses. The issue has been at the heart of the ILO mandate to promote Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, leaving no one behind.

Highlights

What is forced labour?
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What is forced labour?

Key resources on forced labour
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Key resources on forced labour

Our impact, their voices
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Our impact, their voices

Forced Labour Observatory
a man

Forced Labour Observatory

Facts and figures

28 million

men, women and children are in forced labour

63%

of forced labour happens in the private economy

236 billion US$

generated in illegal profits every year

60

countries ratified the ILO Forced Labour Protocol

International Labour Standards on Forced Labour

The Forced Labour Convention (No. 29), adopted in 1930, contains the definition of forced labour and provides that it should be punished as a crime. This is one of the most ratified ILO standards. 

What can the ILO offer and how?

Credit
ILO
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Video on the ILO approach to tackle Forced Labour
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Video on the ILO approach to tackle Forced Labour

 

Focus on

The Fair Recruitment Initiative
FRI logo no text

The Fair Recruitment Initiative

The ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour
Global Business Network on Forced Labour logo cropped

The ILO Global Business Network on Forced Labour

8.7 Accelerator Lab
8.7 Accelerator Lab logo

8.7 Accelerator Lab

News and articles

Consultant for Development of Case Management and Knowledge Management System for Trade Unions Network and Employers-Workers Network

Strengthening Social Compliance in Indonesia’s Palm Oil Sector Project

Consultant for Development of Case Management and Knowledge Management System for Trade Unions Network and Employers-Workers Network

Confronting and Eradicating Forced Labour at the United States Capitol
ILO Congressional Briefing on Confronting Forced Labour

An ILO Congressional Briefing in collaboration with Congressman Brad Sherman

Confronting and Eradicating Forced Labour at the United States Capitol

Publications

Recruitment fees and related costs at a glance

Fair recruitment

Recruitment fees and related costs at a glance

Global study on recruitment fees and related costs: Second edition

Fair recruitment

Global study on recruitment fees and related costs: Second edition

Executive Summary - Global study on recruitment fees and related costs: Second edition

Fair recruitment

Executive Summary - Global study on recruitment fees and related costs: Second edition

Projects

ILO/Japan Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific (SSN Fund)

Social safety nets

ILO/Japan Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific (SSN Fund)

Capacity Strengthening of Governments to Address Child Labour and Forced Labour and Violations of Acceptable Conditions of Work in...

Child Labour and Forced Labour

Capacity Strengthening of Governments to Address Child Labour and Forced Labour and Violations of Acceptable Conditions of Work in...

Want to know more about Forced Labour?
You can contact us at forcedlabour@ilo.org
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