Its object and purpose is to suppress the use of forced labour in all its forms irrespective of the nature of the work or the sector of activity in which it may be performed.

By the end of 1932 ten countries had ratified the convention (Japan, Bulgaria, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Australia, Sweden, United Kingdom, Liberia, and Ireland).

The Government of Thailand was the only state to vote against adoption,[6][7] though it reversed its position a few days later.

It also obligates states parties to develop "a national policy and plan of action for the effective and sustained suppression of forced or compulsory labour".

As of November 2016, it has been ratified by nine states: Argentina, Czech Republic, France, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Norway, Panama, and the United Kingdom.