Migrants remain vulnerable to exploitation, modern slavery, challenging the Church to defend their dignity and freedom.
How easily can an exploited migrant worker become a victim of modern slavery?
On Aug. 23, the world marked the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. The date recalls the night of Aug. 22-23, 1791, when enslaved people in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti, began a major uprising against slavery. The revolt became a turning point in the Haitian Revolution, which eventually led to the creation of the first independent black republic in 1804.
Today’s migrant labor exploitation cannot simply be equated with the slavery of the past. But the day carries an important lesson: Abolishing slavery did not abolish the exploitation of human beings. Modern slavery does not always look like slavery in history books. There may be no chains, whips or slave markets. Instead, control can begin with a recruitment fee that leaves a worker heavily in debt.
It can continue with false promises of employment, withheld wages and confiscated passports, threats, restrictions on movement or fear of arrest and deportation. For many migrant workers, vulnerability begins before they even reach the country where they will work. Recruitment agents may charge large sums of money. Workers arrive already owing debts and desperate to keep their jobs. Finally because of the merciless attitude of the masters these people become penniless and desperate.
