Forced Labour
Forced labour is any work or service which people are forced to do against their will, under threat of punishment. Almost all slavery practices contain some element of forced labour.
"Forced or compulsory labour is all work or service which is exacted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily.”
International Labour Organization Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).
International Labour Organization Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).
It affects millions of men, women and children around the world. It is most often found in industries with a lot of workers and little regulation. These include:
- Agriculture and fishing
- Domestic work
- Construction, mining, quarrying and brick kilns
- Manufacturing, processing and packaging
- Prostitution and sexual exploitation
- Market trading and illegal activities
Forced labour is the most common element of modern slavery. It is the most extreme form of people exploitation.
Although many people associate forced labour and slavery with physical violence. In fact, the ways used to force people to work are more insidious and ingrained in some cultures.
Forced labour often affects the most vulnerable and excluded groups, for example commonly discriminated Dalits in India. Women and girls are more at risk than boys and men, and children make up a quarter of people in forced labour.
Migrant workers are targeted because they often don’t speak the language, have few friends, have limited rights and depend on their employers.
Forced labour happens in the context of poverty, lack of sustainable jobs and education, as well as a weak rule of law, corruption and an economy dependent on cheap labour.
Although many people associate forced labour and slavery with physical violence. In fact, the ways used to force people to work are more insidious and ingrained in some cultures.
Forced labour often affects the most vulnerable and excluded groups, for example commonly discriminated Dalits in India. Women and girls are more at risk than boys and men, and children make up a quarter of people in forced labour.
Migrant workers are targeted because they often don’t speak the language, have few friends, have limited rights and depend on their employers.
Forced labour happens in the context of poverty, lack of sustainable jobs and education, as well as a weak rule of law, corruption and an economy dependent on cheap labour.
Where and how big is the problem?
It’s a global problem, although some regions have larger numbers of people affected than others.
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The number of people in forced labour worldwide (estimates by the 2012 International Labour Organization):
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