The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the fight against forced labour

Abstract

In 2007, Jens Lerche published an article that surveyed The International Labour Organization’s
approach to forced labour, 17 years have passed since then, what has the ILO accomplished and
what has changed? Starting from Lerche’s findings, this paper will attempt to compare and analyze
the state of forced labour in 2021/2022 through the lens of the ILO and their current work to combat
it, such as the development of the The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour
and Forced Labour (IPEC+) Global Flagship Programme and the CLEAR Cotton Project. The paper
will also look towards how these developments align with the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development
Agenda, as Target 8.7 states that it seeks to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced
labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms and
to observe the progress made along the years since 2005 to present day. As a research method, the
paper uses content analysis by comparing articles, surveys and reports from prior years with current
ones, as well as exploring reports made by the ILO on projects they’ve implemented or are planning
to implement in their mission to fight against forced labour and child labour.