In a Chamber judgment in the case of Chowdury and Others v. Greece delivered on Thursday 30 March, the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 4§2 (prohibition of forced labour) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The case involved 42 Bangladeshi nationals, who did not have work permits, recruited with several dozen others to pick strawberries in the 2012-2013 season. They worked in harsh conditions from 7.00am to 7.00pm, seven...