eu-charter

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Article 5 - Slavery / Forced Labour

Article 5 - Slavery / Forced Labour

1. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
2. No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
3. Trafficking in human beings is prohibited.

    • Text:

      The right in Article 5(1) and (2) corresponds to Article 4(1) and (2) of the ECHR, which has the same wording.
      It therefore has the same meaning and scope as the ECHR Article, by virtue of Article 52(3) of the Charter. Consequently:

      - no limitation may legitimately affect the right provided for in paragraph 1;
      - in paragraph 2, "forced or compulsory labour" must be understood in the light of the "negative" definitions contained in Article 4(3) of the ECHR:

      "For the purpose of this article the term "forced or compulsory labour" shall not include:
      (a) any work required to be done in the ordinary course of detention imposed according to the provisions of Article 5 of this Convention or during conditional release from such detention;
      (b) any service of a military character or, in case of conscientious objectors in countries where they are recognised, service exacted instead of compulsory military service;
      (c) any service exacted in case of an emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;
      (d) any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations."

      2. Paragraph 3 stems directly from the principle of human dignity and takes account of recent developments in organised crime, such as the organisation of lucrative illegal immigration or sexual exploitation networks. The annex to the Europol Convention contains the following definition which refers to trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation: "traffic in human beings: means subjection of a person to the real and illegal sway of other persons by using violence or menaces or by abuse of authority or intrigue with a view to the exploitation of prostitution, forms of sexual exploitation and assault of minors or trade in abandoned children". Chapter VI of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, which has been integrated into the "acquis communautaire", in which the United Kingdom participates and Ireland has requested to participate, contains the following wording in Article 27(1) which refers to illegal immigration networks: " The Contracting Parties undertake to impose appropriate penalties on any person who, for financial gain, assists or tries to assist an alien to enter or reside within the territory of one of the Contracting Parties in breach of that Contracting Party's laws on the entry and residence of aliens." On 19 July 2002, the Council adopted a framework decision on combating trafficking in human beings (OJ L 203, 1.8.2002, p. 1) whose Article 1 defines in detail the offences concerning trafficking in human beings for the purposes of labour exploitation or sexual exploitation, which the Member States must make punishable by virtue of that framework decision.

      Source:
      Official Journal of the European Union C 303/17 - 14.12.2007
      Preamble - Explanations relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights:
      These explanations were originally prepared under the authority of the Praesidium of the Convention which drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Although they do not as such have the status of law, they are a valuable tool of interpretation intended to clarify the provisions of the Charter.
    • S.Y. (A Minor) v. The Minister for Children and Ors.
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      High Court
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
    • Lis, Lancet and Chemielewski v. Regional Court in Warsaw and others
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      High Court of Justice - Queen's Bench Division - Administrative Court
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      Justice, freedom and security, Asylum and migration
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
    • Plaintiffs: Pham Hung Long, Hoang Quang Huy, Nguyen Van Nam, Nguyen Van Tuan, Le Anh Hung, Bui Dinh Chien, Nguyen Van Thang, Le Thi Mai, Le Van Thuyen, Vu Van Cuong, Pham Xuan Kiet, Nguyen Van Hien, Duong Van Tue, Khuc Tien Toan, Le Van Nam, Nguyen Van Huy, Dao Van Hong, Bui Thi Anh, Nguyen Van Ben
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      Constitutional Court
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      Justice, freedom and security
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      CZ:US:2016:2.US.3436.14.1
    • Front populaire pour la libération de la saguia-el-hamra et du rio de oro (Front Polisario) v Council of the European Union
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      General Court (Eight Chamber)
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      External relations
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:T:2015:953
    • P (Otherwise P) v The Chief Superintendent of the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ireland and the Attorney General, The Irish Human Rights Commission, Amicus Curiae
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      High Court
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      External relations
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
    • X., Y. and Z. v Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Court (Fourth Chamber)
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2013:720

    28 results found

    • Romania / Constitution of Romania
      Country:
      Romania

      Article 42(1) Forced labour is prohibited. (2) Forced labour does not include: a) activities of doing the military service, as well as activities performed in lieu thereof, according to the law, due to religious or conscience-related reasons; b) the work of a sentenced person, carried out under normal conditions, during detention or conditional release; c) any services required to deal with a calamity or any other danger, as well as those which are part of normal civil obligations as established by law.

    • Slovakia / Constitution of the Slovak Republic
      Country:
      Slovakia

      Article 18 (1) No one may be subjected to forced labor, or services. (2) The provision of paragraph 1 does not apply to a) work assigned according to law to persons serving a prison sentence or persons serving other sentence substituting a prison sentence, b) military service or other service laid down by law in lieu of compulsory military service, c) services required on the basis of the law in the event of natural disasters, accidents, or other dangers posing a threat to life, health, or property of great value, d) activities prescribed by law to protect life, health, or the rights of others, e) small community services on the basis of the law.

    • Slovenia / Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia
      Country:
      Slovenia

      Article 49 Freedom of work shall be guaranteed. Everyone shall choose his employment freely. Everyone shall have access under equal conditions to any position of employment. Forced labour shall be prohibited.

    • Spain / Constitution of the Kingdom of Spain
      Country:
      Spain

      Section 25(...) 2. Punishments entailing imprisonment and security measures shall be aimed at reeducation and social rehabilitation and may not involve forced labour. (...)

    • Czechia / Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
      Country:
      Czechia

      Article 9 (1) No one may be subjected to forced labour or service. (2) The provision of paragraph 1 shall not apply to: (a) labour imposed in accordance with law upon persons serving a prison sentence or upon persons serving other penalties that take the place of the penalty of imprisonment, (b) military service or some other service provided for by law in place of compulsory military service, (c) service required on the basis of law in the event of natural disasters, accidents, or other danger threatening human life, health, or property of significant value, (d) conduct imposed by law for the protection of life, health, or the rights of others.

    • Constituição da República Portuguesa
      Country:
      Portugal

      Artigo 25.º (Direito à integridade pessoal) 2. Ninguém pode ser submetido a tortura, nem a tratos ou penas cruéis, degradantes ou desumanos. Artigo 59.º (Direitos dos trabalhadores) 1. Todos os trabalhadores, sem distinção de idade, sexo, raça, cidadania, território de origem, religião, convicções políticas ou ideológicas, têm direito: a) À retribuição do trabalho, segundo a quantidade, natureza e qualidade, observando-se o princípio de que para trabalho igual salário igual, de forma a garantir uma existência condigna; b) A organização do trabalho em condições socialmente dignificantes, de forma a facultar a realização pessoal e a permitir a conciliação da actividade profissional com a vida familiar; c) A prestação do trabalho em condições de higiene, segurança e saúde; d) Ao repouso e aos lazeres, a um limite máximo da jornada de trabalho, ao descanso semanal e a férias periódicas pagas.

    • Constitution of the Portuguese Republic
      Country:
      Portugal

      Article 25 (Right to personal integrity) (2) No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment or punishment. Article 59 (Workers’ rights) (1) Regardless of age, sex, race, citizenship, place of origin, religion and political and ideological convictions, every worker has the right: (a) To the remuneration of his work in accordance with its volume, nature and quality, with respect for the principle of equal pay for equal work and in such a way as to guarantee a proper living; (b) That work be organised under conditions of social dignity and in such a way as to provide personal fulfilment and to make it possible to reconcile work and family life; (c) To work in conditions that are hygienic, safe and healthy; (d) To rest and leisure time, a maximum limit on the working day, a weekly rest period and periodic paid holidays.

    • Constitution of the Republic of Poland
      Country:
      Poland

      Article 65(...) 2. An obligation to work may be imposed only by statute. (...)

    • Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
      Country:
      Poland

      Art. 65.(...) 2. Obowiązek pracy może być nałożony tylko przez ustawę. (...)

    • Constitution of Malta
      Country:
      Malta

      35. (1) Ħadd ma għandu jkun meħtieġ jagħmel xogħol furzat. (2) Għall-finijiet ta’ dan l-artikolu, il-frażi "xogħol furzat" ma tinkludix - (a) xi xogħol meħtieġ b’konsegwenza tas-sentenza jew ordni ta’ qorti; (b) xogħol meħtieġ mingħand xi ħadd waqt li jkun legalment detenut b’sentenza jew ordni ta’ qorti li, għalkemm ma jkunx meħtieġ b’konsegwenza ta’ dik is- sentenza jew ordni, ikun meħtieġ raġonevolment flinteressi tal-iġjene jew għat-tiżmim tal-post li fih ikun detenut jew, jekk ikun detenut għall-iskop tal-kura, trattament, edukazzjoni jew ġid tiegħu, ikun raġonevolment meħtieġ għal dak l-iskop; (ċ) xi xogħol meħtieġ mingħand membru ta’ korp dixxiplinat minħabba d-dmirijiet tiegħu bħala tali jew, fil-każ ta’ persuna li jkollha oġġezzjonijiet ta’ kuxjenza għal servizz bħala membru ta’ forza navali, militari jew tal-ajru, xi xogħol li dik il-persuna hija meħtieġa b’liġi li taqdi minflok dak is-servizz; (d) xi xogħol meħtieġ matul perijodu ta’ emerġenza pubblika jew fil-każ ta’ xi emerġenza oħra jew kalamità li thedded il-ħajja jew il-ġid tal-komunità.

    • Constitution of Malta
      Country:
      Malta

      Article 35(1) No person shall be required to perform forced labour.(2) For the purposes of this section, the expression "forced labour" does not include(a) any labour required in consequence of the sentence or order of a court;(b) labour required of any person while he is lawfully detained by sentence or order of a court that, though not required in consequence of such sentence or order, is reasonably necessary in the interests of hygiene or for the maintenance of the place at which he is detained or, if he is detained for the purpose of his care, treatment, education or welfare, is reasonably required for that purpose;(c) any labour required of a member of a disciplined force in pursuance of his duties as such or, in the case of a person who has conscientious objections to service as a member of a naval, military or air force, any labour that that person is required by law to perform in place of such service;(d) any labour required during a period of public emergency or in the event of any other emergency or calamity that threatens the life or well-being of the community. 

    • Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania
      Country:
      Lithuania

      Article 48. (...) Forced labour shall be prohibited. Military service or alternative service performed instead of military service, as well as work performed by citizens in time of war, natural disaster, epidemics, or other extreme cases, shall not be considered forced labour. In cases where persons convicted by a court perform work regulated by law, such work shall not be considered forced labour, either.

    • Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucija
      Country:
      Lithuania

      48 straipsnis. (...) Priverčiamasis darbas draudžiamas. Priverčiamuoju darbu nelaikoma tarnyba kariuomenėje ar ją pakeičianti alternatyvioji tarnyba, taip pat piliečių darbas karo, stichinės nelaimės, epidemijos ar kitais ypatingais atvejais. Priverčiamuoju darbu nelaikomas ir įstatymo reguliuojamas teismo nuteistųjų darbas.

    • Constitution of the Republic of Latvia
      Country:
      Latvia

      106. (…) Forced labour is prohibited. Participation in the relief of disasters and their effects, and work pursuant to a court order shall not be deemed forced labour.

    • Latvijas Republikas Satversme
      Country:
      Latvia

      106. (…) Piespiedu darbs ir aizliegts. Par piespiedu darbu netiek uzskatīta iesaistīšana katastrofu un to seku likvidēšanā un nodarbināšana saskaņā ar tiesas nolēmumu.

    • Constitution of Ireland
      Country:
      Ireland

      Article 45 [Social Policy]
      ...
      (4.2) The State shall endeavor to ensure that the strength and health of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children shall not be abused and that citizens shall not be forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their sex, age or strength.

    • Magyarország Alaptörvénye
      Country:
      Hungary

      III. cikk (SZABADSÁG ÉS FELELŐSSÉG) (1) Senkit nem lehet kínzásnak, embertelen, megalázó bánásmódnak vagy büntetésnek alávetni, valamint szolgaságban tartani. Tilos az emberkereskedelem. […]

    • The Fundamental Law of Hungary
      Country:
      Hungary

      Article III (Freedom and Responsibility) (1) No one shall be subject to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or held in servitude. Trafficking in human beings shall be prohibited. […]

    • Constitution of the Hellenic Republic
      Country:
      Greece

      Article 22(4) Any form of compulsory work is prohibited. Special laws shall determine the requisition of personal services in case of war or mobilization or to face defence needs of the country or urgent social emergencies resulting from disasters or liable to endanger public health, as well as the contribution of personal work to local government agencies to satisfy local needs. (...)

    • Το Σύνταγμα της Ελλάδας
      Country:
      Greece

      Άρθρο 22(4). Oπoιαδήπoτε μoρφή αναγκαστικής εργασίας απαγoρεύεται. Eιδικoί νόμoι ρυθμίζoυν τα σχετικά με την επίταξη πρoσωπικών υπηρεσιών σε περίπτωση πoλέμoυ ή επιστράτευσης ή για την αντιμετώπιση αναγκών της άμυνας της Xώρας ή επείγoυσας κoινωνικής ανάγκης από θεoμηνία ή ανάγκης πoυ μπoρεί να θέσει σε κίνδυνo τη δημόσια υγεία, καθώς και τα σχετικά με την πρoσφoρά πρoσωπικής εργασίας στoυς oργανισμoύς τoπικής αυτoδιoίκησης για την ικανoπoίηση τoπικών αναγκών [...]

    5 results found

    • Council Directive 2004/81/EC of 29 April 2004 on the residence permit issued to third-country nationals who are victims of trafficking in human beings or who have been the subject of an action to facilitate illegal immigration, who cooperate with the comp

      Preamble


      (9) This Directive introduces a residence permit intended for victims of trafficking in human beings or, if a Member State decides to extend the scope of this Directive, to third-country nationals who have been the subject of an action to facilitate illegal immigration to whom the residence permit offers a sufficient incentive to cooperate with the competent authorities while including certain conditions to safeguard against abuse.

       

      Article 1: Purpose

      The purpose of this Directive is to define the conditions for granting residence permits of limited duration, linked to the length of the relevant national proceedings, to third-country nationals who cooperate in the fight against trafficking in human beings or against action to facilitate illegal immigration.

    • Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA

      Preamble 
      (1) Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime, often committed within the framework of organised crime, a gross violation of fundamental rights and explicitly prohibited by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Preventing and combating trafficking in human beings is a priority for the Union and the Member States.


      (8) Children are more vulnerable than adults and therefore at greater risk of becoming victims of trafficking in human beings. In the application of this Directive, the child’s best interests must be a primary consideration, in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

      (10) This Directive is without prejudice to the principle of non-refoulement in accordance with the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (Geneva Convention), and is in accordance with Article 4 and Article 19(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.


      (33) This Directive respects fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and notably human dignity, the prohibition of slavery, forced labour and trafficking in human beings, the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the rights of the child, the right to liberty and security, freedom of expression and information, the protection of personal data, the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial and the principles of the legality and proportionality of criminal offences and penalties. In particular, this Directive seeks to ensure full respect for those rights and principles and must be implemented accordingly.

      Article 1: Subject matter

      This Directive establishes minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the area of trafficking in human beings. It also introduces common provisions, taking into account the gender perspective, to strengthen the prevention of this crime and the protection of the victims thereof.

    • Regulation (EU) No 656/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 establishing rules for the surveillance of the external sea borders in the context of operational cooperation coordinated by Frontex

      Preamble 


      (19) This Regulation respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by Articles 2 and 6 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and by the Charter, in particular respect for human dignity, the right to life, the prohibition of torture and of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the prohibition of trafficking in human beings, the right to liberty and security, the right to the protection of personal data, the right to asylum and to protection against removal and expulsion, the principles of non-refoulement and non-discrimination, the right to an effective remedy and the rights of the child. This Regulation should be applied by Member States and the Agency in accordance with those rights and principles.

    • Council Decision of 6 April 2009 establishing the European Police Office (Europol)

      ANNEX

      ‘trafficking in human beings’ means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, as a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, the production, sale or distribution of child-pornography material, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs;

    • Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624

      Preamble

      (103) This Regulation respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by Articles 2 and 6 TEU and by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (‘the Charter’), in particular respect for human dignity, the right to life, the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the prohibition of trafficking in human beings, the right to liberty and security, the right to the protection of personal data, the right of access to documents, the right to asylum and to protection against removal and expulsion, non-refoulement, non-discrimination and the rights of the child.

      Article 1: Subject matter

      This Regulation establishes a European Border and Coast Guard to ensure European integrated border management at the external borders with a view to managing those borders efficiently in full compliance with fundamental rights and to increasing the efficiency of the Union return policy.

      This Regulation addresses migratory challenges and potential future challenges and threats at the external borders. It ensures a high level of internal security within the Union in full respect of fundamental rights, while safeguarding the free movement of persons within the Union. It contributes to the detection, prevention and combating of cross-border crime at the external borders.

      Article 43: Instructions to the teams

      4.   Members of the teams shall, in the performance of their tasks and in the exercise of their powers, fully respect fundamental rights, including access to asylum procedures and human dignity, and shall pay particular attention to vulnerable persons. Any measures taken in the performance of their tasks and in the exercise of their powers shall be proportionate to the objectives pursued by such measures. While performing their tasks and exercising their powers, they shall not discriminate against persons on the basis of any grounds such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation in line with Article 21 of the Charter.

    3 results found

    • European Convention on Human Rights - Article 4

      Article 4 – Prohibition of slavery and forced labour

      1 No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.

      2 No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

      3 For the purpose of this article the term "forced or compulsory labour" shall not include:

      a any work required to be done in the ordinary course of detention imposed according to the provisions of Article 5 of this Convention or during conditional release from such detention;

      b any service of a military character or, in case of conscientious objectors in countries where they are recognised, service exacted instead of compulsory military service;

      c any service exacted in case of an emergency or calamity threatening the life or wellbeing of the community;

      d any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations.

    • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

      Article 8

      1. No one shall be held in slavery; slavery and the slave-trade in all their forms shall be prohibited.

      2. No one shall be held in servitude.

      3.

      (a) No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour;

      (b) Paragraph 3 (a) shall not be held to preclude, in countries where imprisonment with hard labour may be imposed as a punishment for a crime, the performance of hard labour in pursuance of a sentence to such punishment by a competent court;

      (c) For the purpose of this paragraph the term "forced or compulsory labour" shall not include:

      (i) Any work or service, not referred to in subparagraph (b), normally required of a person who is under detention in consequence of a lawful order of a court, or of a person during conditional release from such detention;

      (ii) Any service of a military character and, in countries where conscientious objection is recognized, any national service required by law of conscientious objectors;

      (iii) Any service exacted in cases of emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;

      (iv) Any work or service which forms part of normal civil obligations.

    • Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

      Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2018