UN reveals 21 mln workers in forced labour worldwide

An estimated 21 million workers are in forced labour globally, the United Nations has revealed.

The United Nations' labour agency said forced labour produces illegal profits of 150 billion dollars a year, as it appealed for global eradication of the abuse.

According to news24, the report by the International Labour Organisation offered the agency's picture of an underground economy built on 21 million workers into forced labour.

The ILO found that nearly two-thirds of the estimated profits, 99 billion dollars, come from sexual exploitation, including prostitution and pornography.

It added that women were most commonly the victims of forced employment in sex-related trades and domestic chores, while men and boys were more commonly exploited in agricultural, mining and construction work, the report said.

The director-general, Guy Ryder, said the report highlights the need 'to eradicate this fundamentally evil but hugely profitable practice as soon as possible'.

He said many governments, employers and labour unions all needed to do more to stamp out abusive employment practices, including outright slavery.

The report said the world's most developed countries, including the entire European Union, accounted for nearly a third of the illegal profits, 46.9 billion dollars.

He added that the rest of the Asia Pacific region generated 51.8 billion dollars.