Despite legislation against trafficking and forced labour, Mongolia remains a source country for trafficking, primarily of women, mostly to China and Asian countries. Local NGOs have also reported an increase in internal sex trafficking and forced prostitution.
Draft legislation on combating trafficking in persons was debated in 2011. The aim of the proposed stand-alone law is to prevent trafficking and protect victims through improved rehabilitation and reintegration assistance and compensation. The draft law was approved by MPs on 28 October. Around 200,000 Chinese are estimated to be working in Mongolia. A decision to employ 6,949 workers from China in the Oyu Toloi mine in May prompted calls for a labour inspection by the Mongolian Labour Union.