Council Decision (EU) 2015/2037 of 10 November 2015 authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Union, the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, of the International Labour Organisation with regard to matters relating to social policy

What it is

to authorise Member States to ratify, in the interest of the European Union, the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, of the International Labour Organisation with regard to matters related to social policy. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council. BACKGROUND: the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No 29) of the ILO is one of the ILO’s eight fundamental Conventions that make up the core international labour standards, and it is considered a human rights instrument. Yet, more than 80 years later, despite almost universal ratification of the Convention, the practice still exists, albeit in different forms to those that provoked such concern in the early twentieth century. The ILO estimates that at least 20.9 million people globally are victims of forced labour. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. The Forced Labour Convention, 1930, of the International Labour Organisation, which the Protocol of 2014 supplements, is a fundamental ILO Convention and has a bearing on rules which make reference to core labour standards. The Union promotes the ratification of international labour conventions, classified by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as up to date, to contribute to the Union’s efforts to promote human rights and decent work for all and to eradicate trafficking in human beings both inside and outside the Union. Member States should take the necessary steps to deposit their instruments of ratification of the Protocol with the Director-General of the International Labour Office as soon as possible, preferably by 31 December 2016. For details of the main provisions of this Protocol, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 11.09.2014 . The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs adopted by Patrick Le HYARIC (GUE/NGL, FR) on the draft Council decision authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Union, the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, of the International Labour Organisation with regard to matters related to social policy. Members called on the European Parliament to give its consent to the draft Council decision. They recalled that the Protocol’s provisions strengthen the international legal framework by establishing obligations to prevent forced labour and to provide victims with protection and access to remedies, such as compensation. The protocol calls on governments to take measures to better protect workers – particularly migrant workers – from abusive and fraudulent practices during the recruitment process. In addition, it intends to protect human beings against forced work is prevention and remedies. Consequently, Members proposed that Parliament give its consent to the Council’s proposal for a decision. The European Parliament adopted by 566 votes to 9, with 27 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Union, the Protocol…

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