Innovative approaches to protect the rights of women migrant workers and tackle forced labour: Lessons from the Work in Freedom programme (2013–23)

This brief provides a short summary of the Work in Freedom programme outreach and activities conducted to tackle forced labour and trafficking with the key lessons it generated over the ten-year period (2013-23) of its implementation.

After 10 years of operation, the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded Work in Freedom programme has amassed a rich set of lessons that can help guide future efforts on key global priorities such as promoting women and girls’ rights conducting responsible business and tackling forced labour and human trafficking. This brief provides a short summary of the Work in Freedom programme, its activities and the key lessons it generated.

No easy exit – Migration bans affecting women from Nepal

The ILO undertook this study with the Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women (GAATW). It explores whether Nepal’s age ban deterred younger women from migrating for domestic work and improved working conditions for women migrant domestic workers over 30 years of age. It also explores to what extent the age ban and other bans have had unintended consequences for women, including an increase in irregular migration and trafficking in persons. Finally, it highlights steps the women themselves propose be taken to improve their migration experiences.