In a hot and bustling Jakarta suburb, a group of young girls – and one boy – charm me with their songs, dances, messages, and laughter. Like other healthy teenagers around the world, they sing and dance to the music of Justin Bieber and Bollywood, text their friends and family, chatter about trends, their dreams and aspirations.
They are the lucky ones. They have a childhood – finally. Continue reading
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Head of the ILO’s Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour
When my plane landed in Cuiabá, the Southern Gate to the Brazilian Amazon, the heat almost took my breath away. My first stop was a major construction site where a new stadium is being built for the 2014 World Cup. During the following hours I learned about a fascinating initiative to prevent modern forms of slavery.
The idea of the project is simple but effective: workers who have been rescued from what is called “slave labour” in Brazil, or who are at risk of falling prey to exploitative labour practices, are offered a six-month vocational training course. Once they’ve completed the course, most of them are hired by companies under decent conditions of employment. The company building the stadium for the World cup is one of them.
Beate Andrees
By Beate Andrees, Head of the ILO’s Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour
There are an estimated 21 million forced labour victims in the world today.
Beate Andrees, Head of the ILO’s Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour, shares her insights about modern day slavery and her experience working on the issue.
Join the ILO’s new campaign to End Slavery Now!
End Slavery Now!
Work In Progress 