Brazil supports the ILO in the fight against forced labour

The Brazilian Government will contribute US$ 300,000 to the ILO’s Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA) to promote the agenda on decent work, in particular in the fight against forced labour in Latin America.

News | 22 December 2008

From ILO News and Reporter Brasil

The Government of the Federal Republic of Brazil will contribute US$ 300,000 to the ILO’s Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA), becoming the first donor country from the South to do so.

Brazil's contribution will support field programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean promoting fundamental principles and rights at work, especially the eradication of forced labour. In line with its growing international prominence Brazil is supporting international development efforts through South-South cooperation.

The ILO, in accordance with the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action, has been encouraging member countries with the possibility to do so to make additional voluntary contributions through the ILO’s Regular Budget Supplementary Account.

Brazil has made important advances in recent years in economic, labour market and social policies in line with the ILO Decent Work Agenda. Through its voluntary contribution to the ILO Supplementary Account Brazil will disseminate successful experiences and good practices while strengthening ownership of recipient countries.

“Brazil’s decision leads the way for strong South-South cooperation in support of decent work, facilitating the exchange of experience among countries facing comparable situations” said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia.

His Excellency Celso Amorim, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, said that "Brazil is pleased to contribute to the RBSA funds, in a committed effort to contribute to the ILO's Decent Work Agenda, reaffirmed by the 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation, within the framework of South South cooperation, strengthening solidarity between nations. This contribution will specifically support Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the 2006 Decent Work Hemispheric Agenda of the Americas, in particular in the fight against forced labour in Latin America". It will help to share the Brazilian experience in the fight against forced labour with the other Latin American countries.