Forced labour - an introduction

Below are select introductory materials on business and forced labour.  Further reports from a wide range of sources are in the "Forced labour" section of our site.

Key international standards

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: articles 4, 23.1

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: article 8

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: article 6.1

International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 29: Convention Concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour

ILO Convention 105: Convention Concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour

ILO Convention 182: Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention

ILO Declaration on Fundamental Rights and Principles at Work: article 2

Slavery, Servitude, Forced Labour and Similar Institutions and Practices Convention of 1926

Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families: article 11

Key reports & guidance

The Human Rights and Business Pages: Forced Labour [PDF], Amnesty Intl. Netherlands, Feb 2006

Combating forced labour: A handbook for employers and business, ILO, 2008

Forced labour, UN Global Compact - Human Rights Dilemmas Forum

Why Is Forced Labour My Business?, Anti-Slavery Intl.

IOE/ILO Regional Workshop on addressing forced labour: the role of employers' organizations and business, and related materials, Bangkok, 30 Jun- 1 Jul 2008

The Secret World of Modern Slavery [PDF], Michael Smith & David Voreacos, Bloomberg Markets, Dec 2006

Concerns, company responses & non-responses

The Resource Centre invites companies to respond to allegations of misconduct.  Below are examples of allegations and company responses regarding forced labour.  We also indicate when a company has not responded.

Angola: Security companies for diamond mining operations in Cuango responsible for killings, torture, beatings & other abuses, says report, Sep 2006.  Response from ENDIAMA (Empresa Nacional de Diamantes de Angola), ITM Mining, Lazare Kaplan, Lev Leviev Group, Odebrecht.

Argentina: Allegations that Argentinean clothing brands sourcing from clandestine factories where Bolivians work in “slave-like conditions”, May 2006.  Response from Graciella Naum, Olga Naum. No response received from Montagne

Burma: Tiffany resumes buying gems mined in Burma, Professional Jeweller magazine reports, Feb 2005.  Response from Tiffany. [following our Update it re-imposed the moratorium on gemstones from Burma]

Burma:Total’s presence in Burma fuelling human rights abuses, says new report – 40 organisations in 18 countries call on Total to quit the country, Feb 2005.  Response from Total.

Burma: Burma Campaign UK adds 30 firms to "Dirty List", including Lotus Travel Service, Jan 2009.  Responses from Djoser Reisen, Electric Power Development Company (EPDC), OrkideExpressen, Regent Holidays, Shellseekers, SpiceRoads, Studiosus, TUI, UMW Holdings. No responses received from Asiana, China Gezhouba Group Co. (CGGC), China Hydropower Engineering Group Co. (CHECC), China National Electric Equipment Co., Exotissimo, Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank), First Cabin, Gaffney Cline & Associates, Grand Circle Travels, Hunan Savoo Overseas Water & Electric Engineering Co., Kansai Electric Power Co (KEPCO), Kunming Hydroelectric Investigation, Lotus Travel Service, Malcolm Dunstan & Associates (MD&A) British, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, Nobel Oil, Sputnik Petroleum, Wendy Wu Tours, Yunnan Machinery Equipment Import & Export Co. (YMEC), Yunnan Power Grid Co.

Burma: Two EarthRights reports accuse Chevron & Total's Yadana pipeline of links to forced labour & killings, undermining sanctions; also cites banks OCBC, DBS, Sep 2009. Responses from Chevron, DBS, OCBC, Total.

India: Over 400,000 children working in India's cottonseed fields - often bonded labour, Sep 2007.  Responses from Bayer CropScience, Monsanto.

Jordan: Human trafficking & wide range of abuses at Mediterranean Resources, according to US-based National Labor Committee - supplies Hanesbrands, Wal-Mart, Sep 2008.  Responses from Hanesbrands, Mediterranean Resources Apparel Industry, Wal-Mart.

Papua New Guinea: Dangerous working conditions and sub-standard housing for loggers, according to PNG MP & Labour Department official, Mar 2006.  Response from Rimbunan Hijau.

Positive steps by companies

Global: Clinton Global Initiative - positive steps announced by companies including Body Shop on forced labour

Global: Manpower runs global initiative to help combat human trafficking

Brazil: Companhia Vale do Rio Doce says it will stop selling ore to pig iron companies suspected of using charcoal made with forced labour

Brazil: Financial institutions including HSBC, Banco Real, Unibanco support campaign to eradicate forced labour [Spanish only]

China: Yahoo! sponsors museum in USA documenting forced labour camps in China

USA: LexisNexis partners with NGO to develop national database aimed at combating human trafficking

Lawsuits regarding forced labour

German companies lawsuit (by Hereros of Namibia)

Slavery reparations lawsuit (re USA)

Sweatshop labour lawsuit (re Bolivian migrant workers in Argentina)

Total lawsuit in Belgium (re Burma)

Unocal lawsuit (re Burma)