On 12 February 2025, the Federal Government adopted a National Action Plan against Labour Exploitation and Forced Labour. For the first time, the Federal Government has adopted a national strategy to prevent and combat labour exploitation and forced labour. This fulfils an obligation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) under international law. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs was the lead ministry.
The 83 measures contained in the NAP focus on various objectives: the promotion and expansion of targeted low-threshold services providing information, advice and support to workers; cross-border networking and international cooperation between different labour market actors; and raising awareness about existing shortcomings among public authorities, social partners and enterprises in a targeted fashion. Measures in the four action areas of labour recruitment, workers' rights and their enforcement, working conditions, occupational health and safety and monitoring by the state as well as corporate responsibility aim to combat labour exploitation and forced labour more effectively in future.
Close cooperation between the Federation and Länder is crucial to the overall success of the National Action Plan. The Länder have therefore also developed a total of 125 measures that they are responsible for. The National Action Plan will be successively implemented starting immediately. It will be continuously developed together with the Länder, social partners and civil society groups.