Key terms

There are many words used when discussing modern slavery and labour exploitation that may need some explanation. Here you will find an explanation of key terms used on the GLAA website.

Forced labour

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has a page explaining forced labour and modern slavery. Briefly the ILO explanation of forced labour is "Forced labour can be understood as work that is performed involuntarily and under the menace of any penalty. It refers to situations in which persons are coerced to work through the use of violence or intimidation, or by more subtle means such as manipulated debt, retention of identity papers or threats of denunciation to immigration authorities." 

Irregular migration

This term is used by the International Organisation for Migration where it describes this type of migration as "Movement of persons that takes place outside the laws, regulations, or international agreements governing the entry into or exit from the State of origin, transit or destination."

Modern slavery

Find an explanation of this term on our modern slavery page.