From Protocol to Practice: A Bridge to Global Action on Forced Labour (The Bridge Project II)

Objectives

• Increase knowledge and awareness, on forced labour.
• Support ratification and implementation of the ILO Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930.
• Support the development of improved and responsive national policies, action plans and legislation on forced labour, with strong implementation, monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
• Undertake research and share knowledge on forced labour to inform policy.
• Strengthen workers’ and employers’ organizations to support the fight against forced labour.
• Increase the awareness of and access to services and livelihood programmes for victims of forced labour.

Main activities

• Sensitization of media representatives and journalists on reporting on forced labour and related issues, including through field visits.
• Information-sharing and capacity-building for selected local institutions and registered NGOs to combat bonded labour and promote labour rights.
• Advocacy and awareness raising programmes at national and provincial level to promote the ratification of the ILO Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 and implementation of the Protocol and the related Recommendation.

• Support key national stakeholders and government officials to develop and implement a roadmap for the ratification of the ILO Forced Labour Protocol.
• Identify knowledge gaps and training needs of labour inspectorates related to forced labour, bonded labour, trafficking, victim identification, effective investigation and prosecution.
• Develop training modules on forced labour, including on victim identification, effective investigation and prosecution.
• Train relevant officials and stakeholders on forced labour in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab.
• Strengthen capacity of the District Vigilance Committees in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab to improve the implementation of forced labour laws.
• Support the representative employers’ and workers’ organizations in extending their memberships to workers in the informal sectors focusing on agriculture, brick kiln and mining.
• Support employers’ and workers’ organizations to build the capacity of their members on forced labour and sensitize workers and employers on forced and bonded labour, in the sectors with high incidents.

• Train the National and Provincial Bureaus of Statistics on data collection and analysis on forced labour and support the possible inclusion of forced labour indicators into the regular Labour Force Survey.
• Conduct a rapid assessment on forced labour in at least two high risk sectors with a focus on specific vulnerable groups.
• Partner with national research institutions to support 10 merit-based students to carry out indigenous regional and sectoral research on forced labour.

• Undertake a mapping of organizations providing services to victims of forced labour. Conduct a market analysis and beneficiary needs assessment. Undertake a needs assessment of key stakeholders’ and service providers’ capacities to provide support to victims of bonded labour.
• Link victims to existing services, income generating opportunities and social protection programmes identified in the mapping and studies.

Target beneficiaries

• People in forced labour - in particular victims of bonded labour and their families working in the agriculture, brickkiln and mining sectors in Pakistan, vulnerable groups.
• National stakeholders and policy makers on labour issues, including ILO constituents.

Partners

• The Federal Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD)
• Provincial Labour Departments (DoLs)
• Employers’ and workers’ organizations
• Media, civil society, and relevant UN agencies