China has Ratified the ILO Forced Labour Convention and the Abolition of Forced Labor Convention

28-04-2022

Michela Rivellino

China and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

On April 20th, China announced its ratification of two conventions established by the International Labor Organization, as the National People’s Congress website has shown. Specifically, China has signed the Forced Labour Convention and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention. In ratifying these conventions, China has implicitly agreed to ILO principles, as much as to eradicate any form of compulsory and forced labour.

On the one hand, Beijing has signed six ILO conventions out of eight thus far, the two most recent ones, plus those on equal pay, discrimination, minimum age, and child labor. On the other hand, Beijing has not yet ratified the two related to freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.

Even though ILO Director-General welcomed China’s recent ratification, several observers are concerned about Xi’s credibility and commitment to enforce certain principles. Considering China’s current human rights record, as well as Beijing’s attempt to whitewash its responsibility in Xinjiang, it seems unlikely that President Xi Jinping will comply with the abolition of compulsory labor as a means of political coercion, education, or punishment. Finally, some experts mistrust China’s ratification since it occurred only one month before the incoming visit from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to Xinjiang.

Sources and further reading:

Young, O. (2022, April 25). “China Ratifies ILO Treaties Ahead of UN Visit to Xinjiang”. China Digital Times. From

https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2022/04/china-ratifies-ilo-treaties-ahead-of-un-visit-to-xinjiang/.