Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ratification: 1931)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ratification: 2016)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. The Committee notes the comprehensive information supplied by the Government on various measures taken to combat trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual and labour exploitation. It notes, in particular, the information on the functioning of the National Referral Mechanism, which is a victim identification and support process designed to facilitate the cooperation of all the different agencies that could be involved in the trafficking case. The Government describes the improvements in victim identification, as well as a new model of supporting adult victims of trafficking, which has been introduced in England and Wales. It indicates that this new approach will ensure that all identified victims of trafficking receive support tailored to their individual needs. It will also facilitate the development of a more diverse support sector and will enable a greater range of organizations to support victims. According to the report, analogous victim support measures have been adopted in Scotland.

As regards law enforcement and prosecution, the Committee notes that the UK Human Trafficking Centre supports law enforcement agencies by providing tactical advice, intelligence analysis and expertise in anti-trafficking operations. It also notes statistical information on the numbers of convictions for trafficking provided in the report. The Government indicates that there are comparatively few prosecutions for trafficking for forced labour/domestic servitude, and sentencing practice for convicted cases of this kind remains far lower than for trafficking for sexual exploitation.

While noting this information, the Committee hopes that the Government will continue to provide information on measures taken to combat trafficking, including trafficking for forced labour exploitation. Please describe, in particular, the new strategy to tackle human trafficking, to which reference is made in the report, as well as measures taken to implement the EU Directive on Human Trafficking, which, according to the Government, are subject to the views of the United Kingdom Parliament. Please also continue to provide information on the law enforcement measures, particularly as regards the efficiency of prosecution and punishment of the offenders.

Article 25. Penal sanctions for the exaction of forced or compulsory labour. The Committee notes that section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act, 2009, has created a new offence in England and Wales and Northern Ireland of holding a person in slavery and servitude, or requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, which is punishable by imprisonment for a term of up to 14 years and/or a fine. The Government indicates in its report that the new legal provision enables all of the offending behaviour which might constitute slavery or servitude or forced or compulsory labour to be dealt within the scope of a single offence. The Committee also notes that section 47 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act, 2010, contains a similar provision. While noting this information with interest, the Committee would appreciate it if the Government would provide, in its next report, information on the application of the above provisions in practice, including sample copies of the court decisions and indicating the penalties imposed.