No person may be required to perform forced labour. The narrow exceptions are military service of a purely military character, ordinary civic obligations, work following a conviction carried out under proper supervision, and work in an emergency.

Section 4A(1) states the prohibition and 4A(2) sets out the exceptions, which are the standard international ones. In an employment context this is what stands behind a refusal to work without pay, to work off a debt to an employer, or to continue working while wages are withheld.

Applies to: Everybody