India ratified the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) in 1960. This international commitment is deeply embedded in India's domestic legal system. The most direct links are found in the Indian Constitution and subsequent legislation.

• •Article 23 of the Indian Constitution explicitly prohibits traffic in human beings and forced labour (begar and other similar forms of forced labour). This is the foundational constitutional provision aligning directly with the Convention's spirit.
• •The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, is a direct legislative outcome of India's commitment to eradicate forced labour, specifically targeting debt bondage which is a prevalent form of forced labour.
• •While Article 24 prohibits the employment of children in factories, mines, or other hazardous employment, it also aligns with the broader human rights and anti-exploitation principles that underpin Convention No. 105.

The core economic argument behind such investigations, like the USTR's probe in 2026, is that forced labour creates an 'unfair competitive advantage'. Firms using forced labour benefit from artificially low labour costs, allowing them to sell goods at lower prices. This practice distorts international trade, harms businesses in countries with fair labour standards (like the US), and contaminates global supply chains. Convention No. 105, by aiming to abolish forced labour, seeks to establish a level playing field in global commerce, ensuring that economic development is achieved through legitimate means and not through exploitation. Therefore, international trade actions against forced labour are a practical enforcement mechanism for the principles enshrined in the Convention, extending its impact beyond mere human rights to global economic fairness.

While Convention No. 105 is crucial, it primarily targets forced labour for five specific purposes. This means it doesn't explicitly cover all nuances of modern slavery, such as human trafficking for sexual exploitation or certain forms of debt bondage not directly linked to the five prohibited purposes, which are addressed by other international instruments. Its implementation faces several challenges:

• •Hidden Nature: Forced labour often occurs in clandestine operations, making identification and rescue difficult.
• •Weak Enforcement: Many countries lack robust national enforcement mechanisms, adequate resources for inspections, or political will to prosecute perpetrators effectively.
• •Economic Pressures: Poverty and lack of economic opportunities often drive individuals into vulnerable situations, making them susceptible to forced labour.
• •Evolving Forms of Exploitation: The nature of exploitation is constantly evolving, sometimes making it difficult for existing legal frameworks to keep pace.
• •Transnational Nature: Modern slavery often involves cross-border networks, complicating jurisdiction and international cooperation.

India, as a signatory to Convention No. 105 and a major global economy, has a significant role to play. To strengthen its framework and image, India can take several proactive steps:

• •Strengthen Enforcement and Prosecution: Enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate, and prosecute cases of forced labour, ensuring stricter penalties for offenders. This includes better training for police and judicial officers.
• •Enhance Victim Identification and Rehabilitation: Improve mechanisms for identifying victims of forced labour and provide comprehensive rehabilitation packages, including economic support, education, and skill development, to prevent re-victimization.
• •Improve Supply Chain Transparency: Implement stricter regulations and due diligence requirements for businesses to ensure their supply chains are free from forced labour, especially in sectors prone to exploitation like agriculture, textiles, and manufacturing.
• •Active International Collaboration: Engage more actively with the ILO, UN agencies, and other international partners to share best practices, participate in joint initiatives, and address transnational aspects of forced labour.
• •Public Awareness and Education: Launch targeted campaigns to raise awareness among vulnerable populations about their rights and available redressal mechanisms, and educate employers about their obligations.

The 'five specific purposes' in Convention No. 105 are explicitly linked to state-sanctioned or state-tolerated forced labour for political, economic, disciplinary, strike-related, or discriminatory reasons, whereas other forms of forced labour or human trafficking might encompass broader contexts like sexual exploitation, organ trafficking, or private debt bondage not directly falling under these five state-related categories, though they are all forms of modern slavery.

India ratified the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) in 1960. This international commitment is deeply embedded in India's domestic legal system. The most direct links are found in the Indian Constitution and subsequent legislation.

• •Article 23 of the Indian Constitution explicitly prohibits traffic in human beings and forced labour (begar and other similar forms of forced labour). This is the foundational constitutional provision aligning directly with the Convention's spirit.
• •The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, is a direct legislative outcome of India's commitment to eradicate forced labour, specifically targeting debt bondage which is a prevalent form of forced labour.
• •While Article 24 prohibits the employment of children in factories, mines, or other hazardous employment, it also aligns with the broader human rights and anti-exploitation principles that underpin Convention No. 105.

The core economic argument behind such investigations, like the USTR's probe in 2026, is that forced labour creates an 'unfair competitive advantage'. Firms using forced labour benefit from artificially low labour costs, allowing them to sell goods at lower prices. This practice distorts international trade, harms businesses in countries with fair labour standards (like the US), and contaminates global supply chains. Convention No. 105, by aiming to abolish forced labour, seeks to establish a level playing field in global commerce, ensuring that economic development is achieved through legitimate means and not through exploitation. Therefore, international trade actions against forced labour are a practical enforcement mechanism for the principles enshrined in the Convention, extending its impact beyond mere human rights to global economic fairness.

While Convention No. 105 is crucial, it primarily targets forced labour for five specific purposes. This means it doesn't explicitly cover all nuances of modern slavery, such as human trafficking for sexual exploitation or certain forms of debt bondage not directly linked to the five prohibited purposes, which are addressed by other international instruments. Its implementation faces several challenges:

• •Hidden Nature: Forced labour often occurs in clandestine operations, making identification and rescue difficult.
• •Weak Enforcement: Many countries lack robust national enforcement mechanisms, adequate resources for inspections, or political will to prosecute perpetrators effectively.
• •Economic Pressures: Poverty and lack of economic opportunities often drive individuals into vulnerable situations, making them susceptible to forced labour.
• •Evolving Forms of Exploitation: The nature of exploitation is constantly evolving, sometimes making it difficult for existing legal frameworks to keep pace.
• •Transnational Nature: Modern slavery often involves cross-border networks, complicating jurisdiction and international cooperation.

India, as a signatory to Convention No. 105 and a major global economy, has a significant role to play. To strengthen its framework and image, India can take several proactive steps:

• •Strengthen Enforcement and Prosecution: Enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate, and prosecute cases of forced labour, ensuring stricter penalties for offenders. This includes better training for police and judicial officers.
• •Enhance Victim Identification and Rehabilitation: Improve mechanisms for identifying victims of forced labour and provide comprehensive rehabilitation packages, including economic support, education, and skill development, to prevent re-victimization.
• •Improve Supply Chain Transparency: Implement stricter regulations and due diligence requirements for businesses to ensure their supply chains are free from forced labour, especially in sectors prone to exploitation like agriculture, textiles, and manufacturing.
• •Active International Collaboration: Engage more actively with the ILO, UN agencies, and other international partners to share best practices, participate in joint initiatives, and address transnational aspects of forced labour.
• •Public Awareness and Education: Launch targeted campaigns to raise awareness among vulnerable populations about their rights and available redressal mechanisms, and educate employers about their obligations.

The 'five specific purposes' in Convention No. 105 are explicitly linked to state-sanctioned or state-tolerated forced labour for political, economic, disciplinary, strike-related, or discriminatory reasons, whereas other forms of forced labour or human trafficking might encompass broader contexts like sexual exploitation, organ trafficking, or private debt bondage not directly falling under these five state-related categories, though they are all forms of modern slavery.