Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Suriname

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) (Ratification: 1976)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (Ratification: 2019)

The Committee welcomes the ratification by Suriname of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, and takes due note of the Government’s first report on this instrument.

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of the Convention, and Article 1(1) of the Protocol. Effective measures to combat forced labour. National policy and systematic action. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that a National Action Plan (NAP) against trafficking in persons was adopted for the periods 2021–22, and 2022–23 and that the lack of funding has prevented the Inter-departmental working group on trafficking in persons from implementing the activities envisaged in the NAP. The Committee requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to ensure a systematic action against trafficking in persons, including by providing the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons with the necessary resources to perform its functions. It also requests the Government to provide detailed information on the actions taken under the National Action Plan against Trafficking as well as on any evaluation of its implementation. Lastly, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken to combat other forms of forced labour.

Article 25 of the Convention and Article 1(3) of the Protocol.Prosecution and application of effective sanctions. The Committee previously noted that section 334 of the Penal Code prescribes penalties of imprisonment of up to nine years for trafficking in persons for both labour and sexual exploitation. It notes that section 334a also prescribes penalties of imprisonment of up to 15 years for participating directly or indirectly in slave trade. The Government indicates that three government officials have been prosecuted for suspected complicity in trafficking in persons. It adds that the Police initiated eight investigations for trafficking in persons (six for sex exploitation and two for labour exploitation), compared to six investigations in 2020.

The Committee further notes that the Trafficking in Persons Unit (TIP Unit), established within the Police, has put in place a 24-hour anti-trafficking hotline that operates in Dutch, English and Sranan Tongo. The TIP-Unit has also re-introduced trafficking screening tools to identify victims from incoming international flights. According to the Fourth periodic report submitted by Suriname to the UN Human Rights Committee in 2022, the number of reported cases of trafficking in persons in the country’s remote rainforest, where there is limited government presence, has increased (CCPR/C/SUR/4).

The Committee requests the Government to continue to take measures to enhance the capacities of the police, migration officers and prosecutors for the identification and investigation of forced labour cases, including in remote areas. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on the number of on-going and concluded investigations, prosecutions, and convictions handed down under sections 334 (trafficking in persons) and 334a (slave trade) of the Criminal Code.

Article 2 of the Protocol. Measures of Prevention. Clauses (a) and (b). Education and awareness raising. The Committee notes that the Government has developed and disseminated information material on forced labour in different languages. It notes from the 2022 report submitted by Suriname to the UN Human Rights Committee that the Government has carried out awareness-raising programs on trafficking in persons in Maroon communities in the local languages of those communities (CCPR/C/SUR/4 paragraph 72). It further notes that, according to the ILO Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Suriname for the period 2023–26, stakeholders have expressed concern about the lack of awareness among employers, workers’ organizations, and Government entities on risks and good practices concerning recruitment of migrant workers. The Committee requests the Government provide information on the measures taken to guide and support private sector s to prevent and mitigate the risks of forced labour in their operations, as requested under Article 2(b) of the Protocol.

Clauses (c) and (d). Protection of migrant workers from abusive and fraudulent practices. The Committee notes that under the 2017 Private Employment Agencies Act, private employment agencies are prohibited from charging fees from workers. The Act also requires private employment agencies to inform temporary workers on the nature of the position offered and the conditions of employment. The Committee notes that, under the Labour Inspection Act, labour inspectors are entrusted with supervising and enforcing the observance of legal regulations regarding conditions of employment, and reporting to the competent authorities abuses and faults not covered by the existing legislation. In this regard, the Government indicates that labour inspection services receive training for identifying situations of forced labour and monitoring private employment agencies to prevent fraudulent recruitment practices.

The Committee further notes that the DWCP highlights the increasing inflow of foreign migrant workers who stay in the country in an irregular situation. Within the framework of the DWCP, the Government and social partners shall work together to strengthen labour migration governance by addressing incoherencies in the existing legal and policy framework concerning labour migration.

The Committee encourages the Government to continue taking measures to protect migrant workers from abusive and fraudulent recruitment practices that could lead to situations of forced labour. Please provide information on the monitoring of their recruitment, including through private employment agencies, and on the results of such monitoring. The Committee requests the Government to provide any reports of abuses and faults submitted by labour inspectors; the Committee also requests the Government to indicate measures taken to inform migrant workers about their labour rights and the different grievance mechanisms available to these workers.

Article 3 of the Protocol. Protection of victims. The Government indicates that a protocol for a first response to the victims of trafficking was adopted, the application of which has resulted in increased efforts to identify victims. It adds that government agencies do not have victims’ assistance funds specifically allocated, but that resources can be made available from the general budget as needed. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that assistance to the victims is not conditional on the victims’ collaboration with law enforcement entities nor is it limited to a specific duration (except for shelters). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the specific protection and rehabilitation provided to victims of trafficking in persons as well as victims of other forms of forced labour. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of victims (disaggregated by gender and age) who have received assistance and/or benefited from rehabilitation measures.

Article 4(1). Access to appropriate and effective remedies. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that there is no compensation available for victims of forced labour. The Committee requests the Government to take appropriate measures to ensure that compensation is available for victims of forced labour in the framework of civil or criminal judicial proceedings or by any other means, and to provide information on the progress made in this regard.

The Committee reminds the Government that it may avail itself of ILO technical assistance in relation to the implementation of the Convention as supplemented by the Protocol of 2014.