Labour Trafficking among Men and Boys in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Exploitation, Violence, Occupational Health Risks and Injuries

Abstract

BackgroundMen comprise nearly two-thirds of trafficked and forced labourers in common low-skilled labour sectors including fishing, agriculture and factory work. Yet, most evidence on human trafficking has focused on women and girls trafficked for sex work, with scant research on trafficked men and boys.MethodsWe analyse survey data from the largest systematic consecutive sample of trafficked people collected to date to describe the prevalence of violence, occupational health risks and injuries and associated factors. Participants were labour-trafficked men and boys using post-trafficking support services in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.FindingsData are presented on 446 males aged 10–58. Men and boys were mainly trafficked for fishing (61.7%), manufacturing (19.1%) and begging (5.2%). Fishermen worked extensive hours (mean 18.8 hours/day, SD 5.9) and factory workers worked on average 11.9 hours/day (SD 2.9). 35.5% of male survivors had been injured while trafficked; 29.4% received no personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves). The most commonly reported injuries among all males were deep cuts (61.8%) and skin injuries (36.7%), injuries for which fewer than one-quarter reported receiving medical care. Six fishermen lost body parts, none of whom received medical care. Most males (80.5%) had no or very few rest breaks. One-third (37.8%) experienced severe violence. Work-related injuries were associated with severe violence (AOR 3.44, CI:1.63–7.26), being in the fishing sector, (AOR 4.12, CI:2.39–7.09) and threats (AOR 2.77, CI:1.62–4.75). Experiencing any violence was associated with threats (AOR 26.86, CI:14.0–51.23), being in the fishing sector (AOR 18.53, CI:8.74–39.28) and fluency in language of destination country (AOR 0.39, CI:0.20–0.75).ConclusionThis study highlights the abuse and extreme occupational hazards suffered by trafficked men and boys. Occupational health and safety interventions are urgently needed to protect male migrant labourers working in high-risk sectors, particularly fishing.

Migrant Workers and Psychological Health: A Systematic Review

“…Common physical health problems included dizzy spells (30.2%), exhaustion (29.5%), headaches (28.4%), and memory problems (24.0%); nearly one-third (29.1%) reported pain in three or more areas of their body, and one-quarter (26.9%) reported being in "poor" health. Physical health symptoms were strongly associated with severe violence, injuries, engagement in long-haul fishing, immigration detention, or symptoms of mental health disorders [77].…”

Labour trafficking: Challenges and opportunities from an occupational health perspective

“…These problems can occur in any country, though the relative magnitude of the problem in different countries is not clear. The workers involved represent both genders [ 4 ] and come from different geographic regions including Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, in addition to other parts of the European Union [ 3 ].…”

“…Labour trafficking is seen in work sectors such as agriculture, factory work, fishing, mining, construction, hospitality industries, and domestic services [ 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 ] ( Table 1 ). These work sectors are characterised by frequent labour shortages and use of subcontractors, often in the informal economy.…”

Human trafficking and exploitation: A global health concern

“…In fact, the contemporary amalgam of mobility and low-wage labor fosters many opportunities for labor exploitation. Men, women, and children are trafficked for various purposes, including domestic servitude, agricultural and plantation work, commercial fishing, textiles, factory labor, construction, mining, and forced sex work as well as bride trafficking and petty crime [ 3 – 5 ]. These types of abusive work situations are especially viable in low- and middle-income countries [ 6 ] where low-cost labor is in high demand and where informal and precarious employment proliferates and labor governance is weak [ 7 , 8 ].…”