The present report is submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 42/10. In the report, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, focuses on contemporary forms of slavery in the informal economy and, in that context, analyses the drivers of informality and the profiles of victimized workers before analysing to what extent and in which economic sectors contemporary forms of slavery are globally prevalent in the informal economy. The main challenges and some positive developments in addressing them are also identified in the present report.

The Special Rapporteur concludes that not all forms of informal work are exploitative or abusive but that a clear link between informality and contemporary forms of slavery can be observed in certain economic sectors. He notes that, while there is no one - size - fits - all approach, a transition from the informal to the formal economy is important for the promotion of decent work and to reduce the risk of contemporary forms of slavery in that context. The Special Rapporteur formulates recommendations on how such a transition could take place by taking international human rights laws and standards into consideration.