Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

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

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of the Convention. Policies aiming at combating forced or compulsory labour. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s statement that the true extent of forced labour in Aruba was not known, which was a major obstacle in developing policies directed explicitly to combat it. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that no progress has been made in promoting collaboration between the Labour Department and the Department of Legislation and Legal Affairs in formulating policies regarding forced labour and hopes that the Government will provide, in its next report, information on the measures taken or envisaged in this direction.

Article 2(2)(c). Legislation governing prison services. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that the draft Ordinance and regulations regarding prison services were in Parliament for approval. It has noted from the Government’s latest report that these texts have not yet been adopted and requests the Government to supply a copy, as soon as they are approved by Parliament.

Article 25. Application of penal sanctions for the illegal exaction of forced or compulsory labour. In its earlier comments, the Committee requested information on cases of practical application of sanctions for the illegal imposition of forced labour, having regard especially to the question of foreign workers. It noted the Government’s indication in its previous report that there had been no accounts of forced or compulsory labour registered over the reporting period. As the Government’s reports contains no new information on this issue, the Committee requests the Government to indicate, in its next report, whether any complaints related to forced labour have been submitted to the Labour Department and whether any legal proceedings have been instituted as a consequence of the illegal exaction of forced or compulsory labour and, if so, to provide information on the penalties imposed, supplying extracts of relevant court decisions.