From Data to Action: Understanding Forced Labour Drivers

The International Labour Organization’s Fundamentals Branch is the global leader in advancing core labour rights, including the elimination of forced labour, by supporting governments, employers, and workers to strengthen legal frameworks, institutions, and implementation capacity. As forced labour persists in both formal and informal sectors around the world, policymakers face major evidence gaps: the structural drivers are not well understood, the impact of crises on vulnerability remains under-researched, and limited empirical data has slowed the development of targeted, effective interventions.

To address this, the SIPA team will partner with the ILO to analyze microdata from national and sectoral surveys, including in Nigeria, Peru, Argentina, Indonesia, and South Africa, to identify the determinants of forced labour across countries, supply chains, and crisis contexts. The team will conduct a rigorous literature review, assess available datasets, and build econometric models to examine how social, economic, demographic, and crisis-related factors shape forced labour risk. The project aims to generate empirical findings that strengthen the global evidence base and directly support the ILO’s policy dialogue and technical assistance. The final report will provide clear analytical insights, methodological transparency, and actionable considerations for governments and international partners seeking to prevent forced labour and protect workers’ rights.