Forced labour

At least 12.3 million people around the world are trapped in forced labour. The ILO works to combat the practice and the conditions that give rise to it. Forced labour takes different forms, including debt bondage, trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. The victims are the most vulnerable – women and girls forced into prostitution, migrants trapped in debt bondage, and sweatshop or farm workers kept there by clearly illegal tactics and paid little or nothing. The ILO has worked since its inception to tackle forced labour and the conditions that give rise to it and has established a Special Action Programme on Forced Labour to intensify this effort.

Key resources

Q & A

Questions and answers on “The cost of coercion”, the 2009 ILO global report on forced labour

The 2009 ILO global report on forced labour entitled “The cost of coercion” says that victims of forced labour lose an estimated USD 20 billion ever year in unpaid earnings. This and other findings provide a powerful economic argument for stepping up global action against forced labour.
Report

The cost of coercion

global report under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Newsletter

Combatting forced labour.

The SAP-FL newsletter provides information on recent news, events and publications related to forced labour and human trafficking. (2nd issue 2011)

Focus

Fighting forced labour through labour inspection: A report from Brazil

Brazil has taken a lead in the fight against forced labour. Successive national action plans adopted in 2003 and 2008 have resulted in the liberation of thousands of workers through labour inspection activities and measures to fight impunity of employers.

Face Up to Forced Labour