News on forced labour

April 2013

  1. Regional Tripartite Conference to Combat Human Trafficking

    A two-day regional tripartite conference on ways to combat human trafficking in the Middle East and to present the findings of an ILO research project that maps human trafficking across the region.

  2. Join our Q&A session on forced labour in the Middle East

    08 April 2013

    The head of the ILO Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour, Beate Andrees to host a Twitter Q&A on the forced labour situation in the Middle East on Wednesday 10 April.

  3. ILO estimates 600,000 forced labour victims in the Middle East

    08 April 2013

    In an interview with CNN's Freedom Project, ILO's Beate Andrees spoke to Hala Gorani about forced labour in the region, and some of the challenges in combating it. One such challenge mentioned, was the sponsorship system set up years ago, which may create a "disproportionate power between workers and employers". Better enforcement of laws was also highlighted as a way of better protecting migrant workers.

  4. 1 in 300 workers in Middle East are found "victim" of forced labour, alerts the ILO

    07 April 2013

    The Middle East may represent an opportunity for some migrant workers, it can be something more "sinister" for others . A report from the ILO, titled 'Tricked and Trapped', estimates that in a region where 70% of the work force is made up of migrant workers, 1 in 300 are victims of forced labour. ILO's Beate Andrees, spoke to CNN World Business Today, explaining how workers are deceived about their employment conditions right from the moment they are recruited.

March 2013

  1. Course"Identifying and investigating cases of forced labour and trafficking"

    The main objective of the course is to train participants to better identify and investigate cases of forced labour, including trafficking for labour exploitation. The course addresses the different stages of the process (inspecting workplaces, interviewing victims, gathering evidence), with a focus on the private sector (textile, agriculture, domestic work, etc.).

February 2013

  1. Identifying and Responding to Cases of Trafficking and Forced Labour

    Jordanian law enforcement officials are attending a training programme organised by the ILO in Amman to better identify, investigate and respond to cases of forced labour and human trafficking.

  2. Meeting of Experts on Forced Labour and Trafficking for Labour Exploitation

    The purpose of the Meeting was to formulate recommendations to the Governing Body on the scope for possible standard setting to complement the ILO’s Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), and Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105).

  3. ILO: Tougher measures needed to curb forced labour

    08 February 2013

    According to an ILO report, the need to deter would-be perpetrators is widely recognized, but more effort is needed to identify cases of forced labour and to prevent the crime.

  4. Face Up to Forced Labour

    08 February 2013

    A public service announcement linked to a new report by the International Labour Office (ILO) looks at the "opportunity cost" of coercion to workers affected by forced labour, and details the growing number of unethical, fraudulent and criminal practices that can lead people into such situations.

January 2013

  1. Training "Identifying and investigating cases of forced labour and human trafficking"

    This course, organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin, will train participants to better identify and investigate cases of forced labour, including trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation. It will introduce forced labour indicators and address different stages of the investigative process, such as victim interviews and gathering evidence, with a focus on the pre-trial phase. The course will focus on forced labour occurring in the private economy (including textile, agriculture, domestic work sectors).