Forced labour

Argentina joins the global movement against forced labour

News | 09 November 2016
Argentina has deposited the instrument of ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, thereby becoming the ninth country to ratify the Protocol, after Panama (for the Americas), the Czech Republic, France, Norway and the United Kingdom (for Europe), and Niger, Mauritania and Mali (for Africa).

The ratification took place on 9 November 2016, which is symbolic for being the date of entry into force of the Protocol, namely the day from which this instrument, which was adopted by an overwhelming majority in June 2014, creates obligations for the States that have ratified it.

Through this ratification, Argentina has made a formal commitment to apply this international instrument, which gives fresh impetus to action against all forms of forced labour, including trafficking in persons, and seeks to provide victims with protection and access to justice and compensation.

The ILO estimates that 21 million people are victims of forced labour around the world and that this generates some US$150 billion a year in illicit profits. Victims are exploited in various sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, fishing, domestic work, construction, industry and mining. Forced labour takes different forms, including sexual exploitation, debt bondage and even trafficking in persons and slavery.

On receiving the instrument of ratification, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said: “I welcome this ratification, which is further testimony to Argentina’s ongoing commitment to promoting and implementing fundamental rights at work. This commitment is also visible in the support given by Argentina in organizing the IV Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour, which will be held in Argentina next year. I also welcome the fact that Argentina has decided to extend the scope of this Conference to include the issue of forced labour.”

“Argentina has constantly reinforced its legislative and institutional apparatus to combat all forms of forced labour. In 2012, it adopted the Act concerning the prevention and punishment of trafficking in persons and the provision of assistance to trafficking victims. In 2013, it established the Executive Committee for Action against the Trafficking and Exploitation of Persons and for the Provision of Protection and Assistance to Victims. Also noteworthy are the actions of PROTEX – the branch of the Public Prosecution Service dealing with the trafficking and exploitation of persons – aimed at ending the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of this crime.”

On depositing the instrument of ratification, Mr Ernesto Leguizamón, Chef de Cabinet at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, said: “My country has a long-standing commitment to combating forced labour, having played an active role in the adoption of Convention No. 29 and in the development of best practices for banishing this abhorrent form of exploitation. The ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to Convention No. 29 reaffirms this commitment towards a fairer and more inclusive world. Accordingly, Argentina is in favour of including the elimination of forced labour in the thematic scope of the IV Global Conference on the Sustained Eradication of Child Labour due to be held in Buenos Aires in November 2017.”