Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Austria (Ratification: 1960)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Austria (Ratification: 2019)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. The Committee notes the detailed report published on 15 September 2011 by the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), concerning the application by Austria of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. It notes, in particular, the observation made by the GRETA regarding the low number of convictions for trafficking in persons and the absence of convictions in cases of labour exploitation other than domestic servitude (GRETA (2011) 10, paragraph 151). The Committee notes that trafficking in persons is criminalized under section 104(a) of the Penal Code, and is punishable with up to three years’ imprisonment. In this connection, the Committee notes the adoption of the third National Action Plan (2012–14), which includes, among other measures, the establishment of a working group on labour exploitation chaired by the Federal Ministry for Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of the National Action Plan (2012–14), indicating whether the objectives set out have been achieved and whether an evaluation has been undertaken in order to assess the impact of the measures adopted. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of section 104(a) of the Penal Code criminalizing trafficking in persons, including on the number of convictions and specific penalties applied, as well as on the difficulties encountered by the competent authorities in identifying victims and initiating legal proceedings.