The Irish Congress Trade Unions has welcomed “an historic vote” at the International Labour Conference in favour of a binding protocol to ensure greater protection globally against forced labour.

The binding protocol supplements the existing Convention on Forced Labour and was passed overwhelming by delegates at the conference, with 437 in favour and just eight against. The Irish delegation - representing workers, employers and government - voted in favour.

Speaking after the vote, the Irish Worker Delegate to the conference, Congress Legal Affairs Officer Esther Lynch, called on the Irish Government to quickly ratify the protocol and “make those rights a reality for vulnerable workers, as Ireland was among the first countries to ratify the Forced Labour Convention (No. 29), in 1931.

“Ratifying this protocol will advance prevention, protection and compensation measures for victims. Adopting the protocol will mean that all victims of forced or compulsory labour will have to have their employment rights upheld,” she said.