Essay Example on Modern-Day Slavery: Human Trafficking in Developed Nations

Introduction

In the 18th and 19th century, slavery was prevalent, but this inhumane act slowed due to the abolition of the slave trade worldwide. Today, however, human trafficking has emerged and is recognized by many as modern-day slavery. Human trafficking is a forceful transaction of a human being for exploitation or commercial gain. People can argue that it often happens in developing countries due to the high poverty level, but that is not the case since human trafficking occurs in a developed nation such as the United States. Nsonwu (2019), states that human trafficking varies from labor trafficking, for organ trafficking, trafficking of women for sexual exploitation, and trafficking human for criminal activity recruitment. The inhumane climate and action committed against persons under trafficking have raised questions globally. The essay will explore human trafficking for labor in North Carolina. The purpose of this research is to identify current statistics, causes, and solutions to the problem of human trafficking in North Carolina for labor.

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Modern-Day Slavery: Human Trafficking's Resurgence

According to by Barrick, et al. (2014), the International Labor Organization (ILO) estimate there are over 10 million people forced into labor by private agencies and businesses worldwide. Over 1.4 are forced into sexual exploitation worldwide, but forced labor trafficking holds the most significant number at 7.8 million worldwide. However, Labor trafficking often goes undetected (Nsonwu, 2019). Labor trafficking encompasses fraud, coerced recruitment, movement, and retention of labourers for economic gain. Labor trafficking has become a common phenomenon in the United States, and this is due to the limited attention paid in the areas while more resources and research is invested in other forms of trafficking like sex. The United States relies heavily on immigrant workers to work on their farms. Many of the immigrants are not documented, and as a result, they have high chances of fall under exploitation, fraud and reduced wages, physical abuse and unhealthy working conditions (Nsonwu, 2019). Many of the victims have fallen victim due to lack of knowledge on where to seek help when violated. Others are in constant fear of deportation and as a result; they prefer to go through the exploitations in silence with the hope of a better day.

According to Zhang et al. (2019), a report in 2019 shows that in North Carolina, 61455 immigrants workers are reported annually. About 17,000 of the immigrant workers are said to have faced a form of abuse and exploitations in their daily works11, 000 reported being the victim of labor trafficking. In a study done in North Carolina by Barrick et al. (2013), state that identification of workers facing labor trafficking violations was difficult, most of the people were homeless, others housed in low-end motels passage vans, mobile home parks, and trailers. It is, therefore, difficult to trace these people unless you visit the working environment for interviewing. A study done by Zhang et al. (2019) shows that farmworkers have endured a different form of violations. Statistics show that abusive labor malpractices fall at 34%, deception at 21%, deprivation 15%, physical abuse at 12%. The highest numbers of people facing any form of violation were illegally document workers.

Causes of Labor Trafficking In North Carolina

According to Barrick et al. (2014), North Carolina is famous for plantation farming and agribusiness in general. The region demands a large number of laborers to work in their farm across different seasons of the year. Sourcing of workers in the United States is difficult, and as a result, immigrant workers are often sourced. Due to the high demand for workers in the region labor traffickers are taking advantages by sending immigrants in the area without proper documentation, which has resulted in constant worker violations and unhealthy working conditions. Farmworkers are the most trafficked labor's in North Carolina at a low price. Trafficked labor workers are mostly from a poor background and with the promise of a better future in North Carolina and People are willing to take their chances to better their life. Famers, however, are open to illegal immigrants as workers due to the cheap labor they offer. Trafficked workers are easy to manipulate and take advantage of compared to American workers who are protected by a multitude of policies which upon violation can be costly for employers.

Labor trafficking is not limited to persons of specific age or gender. Every person is venerable whether children, adults, male or female. However, studies done in North Carolina by Barrick et al. (2014), show that acculturation was a factor that impacted on labor trafficking. People with excellent English proficiency stood more exposed to labor trafficking than English poor communicators. However, this does not mean those who are poor English communicator are not trafficked or abused in their work areas, but this means many of the people who are illegally trafficked are people eloquent in the English language compared to those who could not communicate good English. Labor trafficking and violation in North Carolina was more prevalent on persons with no legal documents, Compared to persons with H-2A visa, and other legal documents. Illegal immigrants are easy to manipulate and take advantage of since they rarely report in fear of deportation.

The solution to Labor Trafficking in North Carolina

Reduction of labor trafficking can be achieved if the government spend more resources in the fight against human labor traffickers equally as they chase sex worker traffickers. Turning a blind eye by the government has caused the problem to grow. The law enforcement authorities and labor regulatory agencies need to work collaboratively to enforce good employees working climates and fight labor trafficking. Traditionally the labor regulatory authorities were not tasked with addressing trafficking abuse cases and often they did turn a blind eye claiming that labor trafficking was not their field. Trafficking patrols should be launched continuously to help identify labor trafficking and violation cases. The immigration laws should be strict.

References

Barrick, Kelle, Pamela K. Lattimore, Wayne J. Pitts, and Sheldon X. Zhang. 2014. "Labor Trafficking Victimization Among Farmworkers In North Carolina: Role Of Demographic Characteristics And Acculturation". International Journal Of Rural Criminology 2 (2): 225-243. https://doi.org/10.18061/1811/61593.

Barrick, K. L., Lattimore, P. K., Pitts, W., & Zhang, S. X. (2013). Indicators of labor trafficking among North Carolina migrant farmworkers. Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI International. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/244204.pdf

Zhang, S., Barrick, K., Evans, B., Weber, R., McMichael, J., Mosquin, P., ... & Ramirez, D. (2019). Labor Trafficking in North Carolina: A Statewide Survey Using Multistage Sampling. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252521.pdf

Nsonwu, M. (2019). Human trafficking of immigrants and refugees in North Carolina. North Carolina medical journal, 80(2), 101-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18043/ncm.80.2.101

Jayson, K. G. (2013). Human trafficking in North Carolina: Human beings as a commodity. Criminal Justice Analysis Center. https://files.nc.gov/ncdps/div/GCC/pubs/Human_Trafficking_North_Carolina_2013.pdf

Human-trafficking-in-north-carolina. (2020, April 15). Retrieved April 18, 2020, from https://www.charlottestories.com/north-carolina-saw-62-increase-human-trafficking-2016/human-trafficking-in-north-carolina/