Modern Slavery

The latest global estimate from the ILO and Walk Free suggests that in 2021 there were 50 million people in modern slavery. Of these 22 million were in forced marriage and 28 million were trapped in situations of forced labour, 86% of which occurs in the private sector. Modern slavery seldom takes one particular form or reflects old ideas of colonial era slavery.

Instead, it usually  looks like the work many others undertake and is perhaps better understood as a continuum of exploitation based on financial, rather than physical bondage. Migrant workers are 3 times more likely to be in a situation of modern slavery as other workers and low-wage migrant workers may face a range of exploitations both at home during recruitment and during employment abroad. Chief amongst these is the common practice of being charged large recruitment fees and associated costs to secure employment abroad. 

To afford these charges many workers will take out high interest loans making them indebted from the outset and vulnerable to a range of  further exploitations. Recruitment is a business cost and should be paid by business. Aligned with the IHRB Dhaka Principles for Migration with Dignity - a set of human rights principles that address the challenges faced by migrant workers at all stages of the migration cycle, IHRB works to promote a different model of recruitment.

The Employer Pays Principle affirms that - No worker should pay for a job. The costs of recruitment should be borne not by the worker but by the employer. IHRB works with individual businesses and wider multi-stakeholder initiatives to promote Responsible Recruitment based on the Employer Pays Model. IHRB has also been consulted by governments developing their own policies on recruitment management and to stop other modern forms of slavery.