Geneva, 13 August 2022 (TDI): The Director-General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder, announced the ratification of the Forced Labor Convention (29) and the Abolition of Forced Labor Convention (105) by China, on Friday.
Guy Ryder took to his Twitter and lauded China’s decision in a tweet. He went on to write in the tweet that each and every structure of forced labor is inexcusable and has no place in the modern world.
Pleased China has ratified the @ILO Forced Labour Convention (No. 29) and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105).
Forced labour in any form is unacceptable anywhere in the world.
I urge all Member States to ratify @ILO‘s forced labour conventions & 2014 Protocol. pic.twitter.com/K7gyuAen09
— Guy Ryder (@GuyRyder) August 12, 2022
Along these lines, the Director General implored all the members to vote to approve the 2014 Protocol and forced labor conventions of the ILO.
ILO Forced Labor Conventions
The ILO Forced Labour Convention is amongst the most ratified ILO Conventions. It defines forced labor as work that is carried out against one’s will being under coercive power. It can happen in any sector of the economy, including the unorganized sector.
Moreover, commercial molestation that comes under forced labor affects a large number of victims, especially women and girls.
It is most common in industries like agricultural production, fishery, domestic chores, fabrication, industrial production, and mineral extraction.
This includes women, men, as well as children who are held as slaves and forced into servitude.
Also Read: ILO Report on Youth Unemployment
In June 2014, at the ILO International Labor Conference (ILC) government agencies, employers, and employees made the decision to redouble their efforts in the struggle against forced labor.
They voted overwhelmingly to adopt a Protocol and a Recommendation which supplement the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).
It complemented the existing international instruments by providing specific guidance on effective measures to be taken to eliminate all forms of forced labor.
The article 29 of the Convention state as follows:
“As soon as the ratifications of two Members of the International Labor Organization have been registered with the International Labor Office, the Director-General of the International Labor Office shall so notify all the Members of the International Labor Organization.
He shall likewise notify them of the registration of ratifications which may be communicated subsequently by other Members of the Organization.”
The Abolition of Forced Labor Convention was introduced in 1957. It combats all forms of forced or compulsory labor.
