Several people have considered moving from one region or country to another voluntarily or involuntarily, which exacerbates their vulnerability to exploitation, forced labor, and abuse. Labor trafficking has been escalating over the recent years and based on the effect of this malicious practice, there is the need for an understanding of the factors that facilitate the predominance of this trend (Niewiarowska, 2015). This excerpt outlines why labor or human trafficking has recently become rampant across the globe.
Over the years, the focus of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has been on how to mitigate sex trafficking with little concern for the increasing cases of labor trafficking. The reason behind such a skewed concern is founded on the perception that sex trafficking is a critical social issue and should be addressed and given the desired attention. The lack of awareness has created a fallacy that human trafficking is a historical occurrence and with the current globalization, improved knowledge, and enhanced security measures, such practices do not occur (OSCE, 2005). On the contrary, the number of people who willingly or unwillingly migrate from one region to the other due to several socio-cultural and geopolitical reasons has been increasing.
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The lack of proper human rights framework has contributed to increased cases of human trafficking. The perpetrators have used this gap to advance their practices and influenced a high number of unsuspecting victims to consider moving to places where they end up being vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination. Poverty and oppression are part of the local condition factors encouraging people to relocate (Niewiarowska, 2015; OSCE, 2005). Limited economic resiliency and constant underperformance in most developing countries have forced some citizens to seek ‘greener pastures’ in other countries, but they end up being victims of cheap labor and abuse.
Moreover, political instability in other regions has opened avenues for the oppressors to practice trafficking in exchange for political favors. Militarism and civil unrest distort governance systems, which paved the way for other malicious social malpractice such as human trafficking. In recent years, the uprising of militia groups in war-torn zones has escalated labor exploitation and abuse of the vulnerable groups (OSCE, 2005). Natural disasters could also force individuals to move to countries where they end up in the hands of traffickers. Whenever a huge number of people are displaced, destabilized, or their social lives distorted for an extended period they harbor the perception of seeking a better life in a different place, which increases their vulnerability (Chuang, 2006).
Although many people have not witnessed, heard, or experienced the consequences of human trafficking, one will concur that they have heard narrations regarding human trafficking cases from family members, friends, or across the media. When people who migrated from their countries of origin start complaining of increased abuse, discrimination, maltreatment, and lack of freedom and fundamental rights, there is a high probability that they could be victims of labor trafficking. The society is, therefore, expected to consider the appropriate measures to mitigate the escalating cases of human trafficking across the globe (Chuang, 2006; OSCE, 2005).
In conclusion, human trafficking is a critical socioeconomic concern that requires necessary intervention from government and non-governmental entities. Recent cases of increased trafficking of the labor force have been exacerbated by poor human right frameworks, poverty, adverse economic occurrences, war and civil unrest, natural calamities, and militarism. However, through measures geared towards the reduction of vulnerability of victims by focusing on the causes, labor trafficking could be eliminated. Border control, sensitization, proper governance, and hiring of labor through ethical practice are also part of the essential measures that should be undertaken to mitigate this problem.
References
Chuang, J. (2006). Beyond a Snapshot: Preventing Human Trafficking in the Global Economy. Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies , 13(1): 137-163.
Niewiarowska, K. B. (2015). A Global Study of Human Trafficking Legislation: Causes and Effects. A Thesis Submitted to the New York University. Available at: https://as.nyu.edu/content/dam/nyu-as/politics/documents/Niewiarowska.pdf
OSCE. (2005). OSCE Action Plan on Human Trafficking: Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Available at: www.osce.org/documents/pc/2005/07/15594_en.pdf
