Combating Forced Labour

Forced labour is universally condemned and banned. Many of us might
think that the issue no longer exists and that it has been completely eliminated.
Unfortunately, this is not absolutely true and there is evidence
that situations of forced labour take different forms in some countries
around the world.
The issue of forced labour is the subject of widely-ratified international
instruments and, within the private sector, many codes, agreements and
initiatives refer to the prohibition of forced labour. The elimination of all
forms of forced or compulsory labour is notably one of the fundamental
principles enshrined in the ILO 1998 Declaration on Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work.
Even though the issue of forced labour is addressed in many international
instruments, there is little understanding of it; sometimes, it is even
ignored. For the business community, forced labour might not have been
a priority in the past, but today there is growing interest to avoid the risk
of being linked to it, especially through supply chain activities.
Nowadays, growing globalisation processes have opened up economies,
with supply chains increasingly growing. On the one hand, business has
strengthened and deepened its supply chain management. On the other
hand, the general public is more aware of international developments
and is becoming aware of forced labour situations through the activities
of non-governmental organisations, lobby groups, the media and others,
where forced labour situations have been brought into greater focus by
some recent well-publicised examples.
This Handbook for Employers and Business provides excellent practical
tools and guidance to enable business and its organisations to identify
and prevent situations of forced labour. The International Organisation
of Employers commends the efforts of the ILO Special Action Programme
on Forced Labour on its first initiative to develop a set of practical tools
specifically for the private sector. The IOE has been closely involved in
this initiative and we are certain that this Handbook will be of great
assistance in helping employer organisations and their members understand
the issue of forced labour, in taking the necessary measures to
avoid being involved in those situations and in contributing to the total
elimination of forced and compulsory labour.