Addressing exploitation of labour migrants in Southeast Asia: Beyond a counter-trafficking criminal justice response

Large numbers of young people in Southeast Asia seek work opportunities outside their country of origin, migrating both regularly and irregularly, and with little power to access or negotiate safe and fair migration and work conditions. The risk of exploitation is high.The potential for human trafficking in these situations has attracted
significant attention. Yet much of the response by regional governments and international donors has focused on identifying and prosecuting ‘traffickers’ rather than addressing the many vulnerabilities and forms of exploitation that many labour migrants experience. This thematic brief sets out a diversity of forms of exploitation that labour migrants in Southeast Asia experience, and the implications for how efforts to respond might need to adapt. This includes broadening beyond the dominant frame of criminal justice in order to address exploitation at scale and in a manner that is realistic about the prevailing political economy.

Addressing exploitation of labour migrants in Southeast Asia: Beyond a counter-trafficking criminal justice response- Australian Aid, 2023 DOWNLOAD

“If we complain, we are fired”: Discrimination and Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers on FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Stadium Sites

News & AnalysisPublications

Investigations by Equidem between September 2020 and October 2022 documented significant labour and human rights violations at all eight FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums—Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Al Janoub Stad...Read More

TAGS: Middle East

Launch of the OSCE and Tech Against Trafficking publication: Leveraging innovation to fight trafficking in human beings: A comprehensive analysis of technology tools

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When: June 24, 2020 @ 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Launch of the OSCE and Tech Against Trafficking publication Leveraging innovation to fight trafficking in human beings: A comprehensive analysis of technology tools 24 June 2020 16:30-17:30 CEST | 7:30-8:30 PST | 10:30-11:30 EST via Zoom Description The intersection of...

TAGS: Information and Communications Technology Global

INDONESIAN TIP CASES: AN ANALYSIS OF 2019-2021 COURT DECISIONS

News & AnalysisLegislation

The ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking is a 10-year partnership funded by the Australian Government (2019-2028) that supports ASEAN Member States to implement and report on their obligations under the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons...Read More

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Decent Work for Ugandan Domestic Workers: Findings and Recommendations for Funders

Legislation

In Uganda and Kenya, thousands of Ugandan children work as domestic workers. Despite laws prohibiting employment of children under the age of 16 in Uganda, there is little enforcement in the domestic work sector. While poverty drives children to ent...Read More

TAGS: Africa