UN agency voices concern over UK’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme
London, UKReuters The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, voiced concern on Wednesday over a UK scheme that allows British residents to house Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, saying the program could be exploited without adequate safeguards. The British Government introduced the “Homes for Ukraine” scheme last month, allowing Britons to sponsor Ukrainians and provide them […]
Race protests spark calls for Arab states to end “exploitative” migrant worker system
Amman, JordanThomson Reuters Foundation Global anti-racism protests sparked calls on Monday for Arab countries to abolish an “exploitative” system of sponsorship for migrant workers that has been likened to modern slavery. About 23 million migrants, mostly from poor African and Asian countries, work in the Arab world under a system known as ‘kafala’ that generally […]
Thailand needs neighbours’ help to crack down on slavery at sea – activist
LondonThomson Reuters Foundation Thailand’s crackdown on exploitation and slavery in its multi-billion dollar fishing industry will only succeed if its neighbours step up and adopt anti-trafficking laws, said a labour rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Thai fishing vessels are increasingly registering in nearby countries to avoid scrutiny of their treatment of migrant workers […]
ETHICAL FASHION: PRESSURE ON AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES SEEING INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENTS BUT STILL “A DISTANCE TO GO” REPORT FINDS
DAVID ADAMS reports on the findings of the seventh annual Ethical Fashion Report from Baptist World Aid Australia…
UK slave bosses may be “personally liable” for exploitation of workers
LondonThomson Reuters Foundation Modern slavery civil suits in Britain got more personal with a high court ruling on Monday that the bosses of trafficked workers – not just the companies they work for – may be “personally liable” for their treatment of victims. Eleven Lithuanian men trafficked into Britain to work on a chicken farm […]
Return of abused Bangladeshi maids from Saudi prompts calls for government action
Thomson Reuters Foundation More than 100 Bangladeshi female workers abused or exploited in Saudi Arabia returned home last week, according to human rights activists, fuelling calls to stop sending Bangladeshi women to the Middle East to work as housemaids. Bangladeshi non-government organisation BRAC said an increasing number of women were returning from the Middle East […]
Pope appeals to governments to tackle human trafficking
Pope Francis has appealed to governments around the world to take action to end human trafficking and protect its victims. In comments made on Sunday – two days after the church held a day to raise awareness of human trafficking, the Pope reportedly said on Sunday that all people “can and must work together to denounce […]
CHILD LABOUR: WITH NEW DATA, INDIA LOOKS TO FIGHT EXPLOITATION IN MICA MINES
ROLI SRIVASTAVA reports for the Thomson Reuters Foundation…
Campaigners challenge UN over forced labour in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry
Thomson Reuters Foundation Rights groups on Friday disputed findings by the United Nations showing Uzbekistan has nearly eliminated forced labour from its cotton industry, saying that exploitation is still “systematic”. The annual cotton harvest in Uzbekistan is the world’s largest recruitment operation, with about 2.6 million people temporarily picking cotton every year, according to the […]
ORPHANAGES: CALLS MOUNT TO STOP EXPLOITATION OF POOR CHILDREN TO LURE TOURISTS, MONEY
EMMA BATHA, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports on growing moves to address “orphan trafficking” around the world…