Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 297: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on new efforts Ireland will make within a global alliance to help ensure international supply chains are managed in such a way as not to allow forced labour and all forms of exploitation in the context of the International Labour Organisation's recent international forum against forced labour. [10305/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I assume that the Deputy may be referring to the outcome of a recent international forum against human trafficking, which was organised by UN.GIFT — a coalition of six intergovernmental agencies. The forum was convened under the title, Vienna Forum against Human Trafficking, in which the ILO convened dedicated sessions on supply chain management, the demand for forced labour and sexual exploitation, together with the roles of employers' organisations, business and trade unions in combating trafficking, where participants discussed measures to prevent human trafficking in particular. According to the ILO this has generated a new momentum for a global alliance aimed at abolishing forced labour in the next decade with strong support from employer and labour representatives.

Ireland fully supports the International Labour Organisation in their on-going efforts in the fight against forced labour. The ILO has a very important role in this regard through the many instruments developed under its aegis, including relevant Conventions and Recommendations and follow-up action programmes aimed at combating forced labour, including the ILO's Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour. Much is being achieved through such ILO programmes which make a real impact on people's lives.

Ireland is currently part of a global alliance in the fight against forced labour as evidenced by our participation in and contribution to core policies pursued by the European Union which strongly supports the efforts of the ILO in pursuit of, for example, its Decent Work Agenda. Here, the ILO promotes domestic policies and international co-operation as priority objectives to be pursued, aimed at full and productive employment and decent work as key elements of sustainable development.

In addition, Member States of the European Union continue to conduct internal and external policies, particularly those focussed on international trade, in a consistent manner thus contributing to maximising the benefits and minimising the costs of globalisation for all groups and countries both inside and outside of the EU. Consistent pursuit of the policy approaches above are conducive to the emergence and development of an effective global alliance aimed at combating all forms of forced labour and associated exploitation.