The International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo and Brazil's Minister of Labour and Employment Luiz Marinho marked Brazil's ratification of the 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention (No. 29) during a meeting on Wednesday, 1 October, on the sidelines of the ILO's 20th American Regional Meeting, held in the Dominican Republic.
The meeting provided the first opportunity for a symbolic acknowledgment between the ILO and Brazil at a high-level event since Brazil first its ratification instrument at the ILO headquarters in Geneva in July 2025.
The exchange underscored Brazil's renewed commitment to eradicate forced labour and to implement strengthened protections for workers. The Protocol updates the 1930 Forced Labour Convention to address contemporary challenges, at a time when an estimated 28 million people remain in forced labour globally.
With this ratification, Brazil joins 62 other ILO member States in pledging to improve legislation, inspections, and support for affected workers, while promoting responsible business conduct and due diligence.
A founding member of the ILO, Brazil has now ratified 98 Conventions and one Protocol.
Over the years, Brazil has consistently acted to combat forced and child labour, including through ILO-supported projects in supply chains such as cocoa, coffee, açaí and carnaúba across the country. These initiatives aim to promote decent work, expand income-generation alternatives, strengthen public policies and foster awareness of international labour standards, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
