Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Ireland (Ratification: 1931)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Ireland (Ratification: 2019)

Article 1(1) and Article 2(1) and (2)(c) of the Convention. Work of prisoners for private enterprises. Referring to its previous comments concerning the free and informed consent required from prisoners working for private enterprises, both inside and outside prison premises, the Committee notes with interest the Prison Rules adopted in 2007, which replace the Rules for the Government of Prisons, 1947. The Committee notes that Rule 30(1) provides that a prisoner may, with his or her consent, and with the authority of the Governor, engage or participate in approved employment for an approved person and the approved person shall remunerate the prisoner concerned at a rate no less favourable than he or she would remunerate a person who is not a prisoner. According to Rule 30(2) approved person means a person, company or other body approved by the Minister and for the purposes of such employment the approved person shall be deemed the employer of the prisoner.

The Committee furthermore notes the Government’s indications in its report that the Irish Prison Service does not enter into employment contracts on behalf of prisoners working outside prison with private employers, as well as the Government’s statement that there are no instances of prisoners working for private entities inside Irish prisons.