Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Aruba

The Committee has noted the Government's indication in its report received in 1994 that no measures had been taken to give effect, by means of legislative, administrative or any other action, to the provisions of the Convention. It has also noted the difficulties in fulfilling reporting obligations mentioned by the Government in its report. In the absence of a reply to its earlier comments, the Committee hopes that a report on the application of the Convention will be supplied for consideration at its next meeting, and that it will contain information on the following point raised in its previous direct request:

Article 25 of the Convention. The Committee noted the observation by the Federation of Aruba Workers (Federacion di Trahadornan di Aruba) that apparently a recruiting agent from Colombia supplied a local hotel with workers, but that these were obliged to perform work after their eight-hour shift at the hotel for a bakery. The Federation stated that due to the increased demand for workers on the island, it has observed that there are many recruiting agents operating.

The Committee again requests the Government to provide information regarding these allegations and on any measures taken or envisaged to control the activities of recruiting agents and the conditions in which migrant workers are recruited and employed, so as to ensure the compliance with the Convention.