Staggering 12.3 m worldwide under forced labour, says ILO

At least 12.3 million people the world over are trapped in forced labour, according to a latest study by the International Labour Office (ILO). Of this figure, some 9.5 million are in Asia while Latin America and the Caribbean is next with 1.3 million.

Other regions with a marked forced labour population are the Sub-Saharan Africa (660,000), Middle East and North Africa (260,000) while the figures in industrial countries is 360,000 and 210,000 in transitional countries.

The new report, entitled 'A global alliance against forced labour' says that nearly 10 million people are exploited through forced labour in the private economy, rather than imposed directly by states. Of these, the study estimates a minimum of 2.4 million to be victims of human trafficking.

The report also provides the first global estimate of the profits generated by the exploitation of trafficked women, children and men - US$ 32 billion each year, or an average of US$ 13,000 from every single trafficked forced labourer.

"Forced labour represents the underside of globalisation and denies people their basic rights and dignity", ILO Director General Juan Somavia said. "To achieve a fair globalisation and decent work for all, it is imperative to eradicate forced labour."

The report is the most comprehensive analysis ever undertaken by an intergovernmental organisation of the facts and underlying causes of contemporary forced labour.

It was prepared under the Follow Up to the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work adopted by the ILO in 1998 and will be discussed at the Organisation's annual International Labour Conference in June.

Forced economic exploitation in such sectors as agriculture, construction, brick-making and informal sweatshop manufacturing is more or less evenly divided between the sexes. However, forced commercial sexual exploitation entraps almost entirely women and girls. In addition, children aged less than 18 bear a heavy burden, comprising 40 to 50 per cent of all forced labour victims, the report reveals.

The report sheds new light on the emerging forms of forced labour affecting migrant workers, in particular irregular migrants in rich and poor destination countries alike. It also examines the labour market conditions under which forced labour is most likely to occur, such as where there are inadequate controls over recruitment agencies and subcontracting systems, or weak labour inspection.

"Forced labour is the very antithesis of decent work, the goal of the ILO", says Somavia.

"There is critical need for devising effective strategies against forced labour today. This requires a blend of law enforcement and ways of tackling the structural roots of forced labour, whether outmoded agrarian systems or poorly functioning labour markets."