ILO revises global forced labour estimate upward to 29.3 million people

New ILO and Walk Free joint estimates show forced labour rising in global supply chains, with the strongest growth in agriculture, construction and electronics manufacturing.

The latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery report a rise in people trapped in forced labour, driven by economic shocks, conflict displacement and climate migration. Nearly two-thirds of cases are linked to private-sector supply chains rather than state-imposed labour.

The report calls on brands to move from audit-only assurance to worker-voice monitoring and responsible recruitment, noting that recruitment fee debt remains the single most common pathway into forced labour for migrant workers.