Asia’s unacceptable record on modern slavery

A boy working at an aluminium goods factory in Dhaka. Sixty-two million children in the Asia Pacific still work so they and their families can survive. AFP PHOTO

Out of the 40 million victims of modern slavery worldwide, almost two thirds—25 million people—are exploited in Asia and the Pacific. Making the region host to the largest number of victims of modern slavery today.

Further breakdowns of the modern slavery figure reveal that the region accounts for 73 percent of all victims of forced sexual exploitation, 68 percent of those subjected to state-imposed forced labour, and 64 percent of those in forced labour exploitation.

And although the share of persons living in extreme poverty in Asia and the Pacific has been cut by about 70 percent over the past 10 years, 62 million children still must work so that they and their families can survive.

Fighting these unacceptable forms of work is part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders in 2015. An agenda whereby all countries committed to achieve 17 interrelated goals and 169 associated targets to guide global development, which are collectively known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Target 8.7 calls for “immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.”

The latest figures show that the SDGs, particularly target 8.7, will not be achieved unless efforts are dramatically increased. Ending modern slavery and child labour requires integrated thinking, coordinated action, effective policymaking and efficient use of resources in unprecedented ways.

Policies beyond the world of work must converge around this goal, to address the root causes of forced labour, modern slavery and child labour, and find the right incentives and deterrents to change behaviours.

A coherent strategy will include policies that touch upon fundamental rights of workers, education, social protection, labour inspection, informality, youth employment, gender, migration and labour law, while also strengthening our knowledge base through statistics and research.

Achieving SDG 8.7 will require mobilising partnerships at a new level. Partnerships that harness energy, resources and strategic vision. And that’s what Alliance 8.7 is about: A multi-stakeholder initiative, conducting research and sharing knowledge, driving innovation, and leveraging resources to accelerate efforts to achieve the target.

This objective requires the active involvement of all parts of society, of all of us: governments, workers’ and employers’ organisations, private sector, civil society and community organisations, faith-based groups, academia, media and individuals.

There are already some encouraging signs, especially in Asia which has seen the largest decline in child labour since 2012. This progress was accomplished by moving away from isolated approaches, towards policies that tackle the root causes of child labour, while strengthening countries’ legal frameworks and capacities for enforcement.

Let’s continue the momentum and ask ourselves and each other: What more is needed to ensure there’s no one left behind in our own countries and communities, in our businesses, schools, and homes?

If not us, who else?

(Tomoko Nishimoto is ILO Assistant Director-General.)