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

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Russian Federation (Ratification: 1956)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Russian Federation (Ratification: 2019)

The Committee welcomes the ratification by the Russian Federation of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930. Noting that the first report of the Government has not been received, the Committee hopes that the Government will provide detailed information on its application, in accordance with the report form adopted by the Governing Body.

The Committee notes the observations of the Confederation of Labour of Russia (KTR) communicated with the Government’s report.

Articles 1(2) and 2(1) of the Convention. Vulnerable situation of migrant workers to the exaction of forced labour. The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not provided specific information as regards the allegations concerning the increased risk of falling into forced labour faced by migrant workers from neighbouring countries and the lack of effective action from the law enforcement bodies to put an end to practices of labour exploitation. The Committee further notes that in its 2023 concluding observations, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed remaining concern that migrant workers, particularly from Central Asia and the Caucasus, still face harsh working conditions, abuse and exploitation and are subjected to discrimination in employment. (CERD/C/RUS/CO/25-26).

The Committee requests the Government to take measures to prevent migrant workers from being caught in abusive practices and conditions of work that could amount to forced labour and to ensure the effective and adequate protection of migrant workers who are victims of forced labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on the measures taken in this respect and the results achieved. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement bodies to identify and proactively investigate cases of labour exploitation and to provide information on prosecutions initiated, convictions and specific penalties imposed on perpetrators under section 127.2 (use of slave labour) of the Penal Code or any other relevant penal provision.

Article 2(2)(c). Prison labour. The Committee previously requested the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that work carried out by convicts for private enterprises under sanctions involving compulsory labour, including deprivation of liberty or compulsory work, is only permitted with the free, informed and formal consent of the convicts concerned. The Committee notes with regret the absence in the Government’s report of new information in this respect. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that as of 1 May 2023, the average number of convicts sentenced to deprivation of liberty and engaged in paid work at the facilities of third-party organizations was 8,200. As of 1 July 2023, more than 23,000 convicts sentenced to compulsory work were employed in 1,700 organizations, engaged in construction, food production, agriculture and other areas. The Government indicates that the administration of correctional institutions ensures the supervision of convicts. The Government further refers to Article 2(2)(c) of the Convention, under which work exacted from a person as a consequence of a conviction in a court of law and carried out under the supervision and control of a public authority, shall not be included under the definition of forced labour.

The Committee recalls, in this regard, that Article 2(2)(c) of the Convention sets out two conditions that apply cumulatively: the fact that the prisoner remains at all times under the supervision and control of a public authority does not in itself dispense the government from fulfilling the second condition, namely that the person is not hired to or placed at the disposal of private individuals, companies or associations. If either of the two conditions is not observed, the situation is not excluded from the scope of the Convention (see 2007 General Survey on the eradication of forced labour, paragraph 55). The Committee further recalls that the work of prisoners for private companies is only compatible with the Convention where it does not involve compulsory labour, which requires the formal, freely given and informed consent of the persons concerned. In this regard, the Committee notes that the KTR, in its observations, expresses concern about the increased use of prison labour by private enterprises.

Noting that the legislation allows work to be carried out for private enterprises by convicts sentenced to deprivation of liberty or compulsory work, the Committee once again strongly requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that this work is only permitted with the free, formal and informed consent of the convicts concerned, without being subjected to pressure or the menace of any penalty, including the loss of rights or privileges. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of convicts working for private enterprises and the nature of those enterprises, as well as on the manner in which the free, formal and informed consent of these convicts is given.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.