My hon Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Karen Bradley) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:
The Forced Labour Convention (the Convention) is one of eight fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In June the ILO agreed a Protocol and set of Recommendations to supplement the Convention, with support from the UK Government.
On 12 September, the European Commission proposed that Council Decisions should be adopted to authorise Member States to ratify the ILO Protocol, in the interest of the European Union, with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters and with regard to matters related to social policy.
The Government does not agree that the EU has any exclusive competence in the area covered by the Protocol. The Government has therefore decided not to opt in to the Council Decision covering matters related to judicial co-operation.
The UK is determined to tackle the horrific crime of modern slavery, and intends to ratify the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention.
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