Combating forced labour - A handbook for employers and business

An ILO-IOE practical handbook to help companies and employer organizations prevent and address risks of forced labour. Grounded on international labour standards, it offers practical tools for due diligence based on the 11 indicators of forced labour.

Forced labour affects more than 27 million people worldwide, cutting across borders, sectors, and supply chains. Companies and employer organizations have a vital role to play in eradicating this pervasive abuse.

The ILO and IOE published the first edition of Combating Forced Labour: A Handbook for Employers and Business in 2008, followed by a second edition in 2015. This third edition provides updated, practical guidance to help companies identify, prevent, and mitigate risks of forced labour within their operations and supply chains.

It is grounded in international labour standards, including the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) and its 2014 Protocol, as well as internationally recognized frameworks on business and human rights: the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration).

The handbook uses the ILO definition of forced labour and its 11 indicators to help identify and assess risks in practice.

Who is it for?

The primary audience includes companies (management, human resources, procurement, legal, compliance, and sustainability officers); employer and business membership organizations (EBMOs); industry associations; multi-stakeholder platforms supporting responsible business conduct (RBC); and other actors involved in human rights due diligence (HRDD).