[Mb-civic] CBC News - FORCED LABOUR A 'SOCIAL EVIL' THAT IS SPREADING: UN REPORT

Wed May 11 18:14:16 PDT 2005

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FORCED LABOUR A 'SOCIAL EVIL' THAT IS SPREADING: UN REPORT
WebPosted Wed May 11 10:43:47 2005

Geneva---More than 12 million people in the world work like slaves,
generating $40 billion in profits for those who exploit them, according
to a new report by the International Labour Organization.

"Forced labour represents the underside of globalization and denies
people their basic rights and dignity," said ILO director-general Juan
Somavia, who called it a "social evil."

The United Nations agency on Wednesday called for a world alliance to
improve laws. It says the demand for cheap labour has driven millions of
people into forced labour.

"There are practically no investigations or prosecutions of this in the
world," said Roger Plant, who headed the survey, called A Global Alliance
Against Forced Labour.

An international convention 75 years ago defined forced labour as all
involuntary work extracted from a person under threat of punishment
or penalty.

"[We have found evidence] forced labour is penetrating the supply chain
of private companies, including quite major companies," said Plant.

The 87-page report says:

56 per cent of the total are women and girls. 9.8 million are poor
people, most of whom become "bonded workers" &#8211; they fall into debt
and must work to pay back loans. Children of parents in debt are also
forced to work. 2.5 million people are forced to work by states or rebel
military groups.

The study said forced labour exists on all continents and "in every kind
of economy."

It identified 270,000 people exploited by smuggling rings and pressed
into prostitution, domestic, farm or construction work.

Asia had the greatest number of victims at 9.5 million, followed by Latin
America and the Caribbean at 1.3 million and 660,000 in Africa.

The ILO recommends wealthy countries examine their labour and
immigration policies.

"With political will and global commitment over the next decade, we
believe forced labour can be relegated to history," said Samovia.