The Price and Profit of Modern Slavery

Trigger warning: This article contains references to sexual exploitation.  

*Name changed to protect identity.  

Illegal profit generated from forced labour each year around the world has reached an estimated NZ$396 billion, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s latest report. That’s money made from ‘owning’ and exploiting men, women and children. Forced labour is a powerful global industry that’s only becoming more profitable. But there’s hope!

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This is Dao*. She's an easy-going high schooler who enjoys spending time in nature. 

This is Dao*. She’s an easy-going high schooler who enjoys spending time in nature. When Dao was younger, her family’s financial problems forced her to drop out of school and look for work. Her younger brother had an education scholarship and needed support, and being a good sibling, she wanted to help. After hearing about it from friends, she found work at a karaoke bar -but it wasn’t what she’d thought.  The job involved sexual exploitation, despite her being underage. Her ‘employer’ (exploiter) fined her when a guest did not call Dao for ‘service’.

Dao’s story is an example of modern slavery, and she’s not alone. Modern slavery is an umbrella term that covers the multiple ways when an individual treats another like they own them. The latest global estimates have almost 50 million individuals working or living in modern slavery situations. This includes 22 million in forced marriage. Families, often unaware of the harmful consequences, accept dowries and marry off their young daughters against their will. This frequently results in the girl suffering from psychological trauma, domestic violence, abuse, and social isolation. It also includes 27.6 million people, like Dao, who are coerced into forced labour by violence, intimidation or more subtle means. 

Dao was trapped in sex work because she was being fined by her employer and then forced to pay-off her ‘debt’. For others, wages are withheld, forcing them to remain in their jobs for fear of losing their much-needed accrued earnings. Sometimes an employer will keep hold of a person’s identity papers or passport so they’re unable to migrate or seek support. Others are threatened with exposure to immigration authorities of their illegal presence in a country. Coercion can also be solitary confinement or withholding basic needs like food or a decent place to live.    

This is completely unacceptable and illegal. It strips people of their dignity and takes advantage of their vulnerability. Yet, ILO’s latest report finds that not only is forced labour becoming more common, the amount of profit generated per person has also increased.

It’s estimated almost 28 million people are in forced labour around our world.  

Almost $17,000 per person. 

This monstrous figure represents the difference between what these 27.6 million workers would earn if they were paid what they’re legally entitled to, and what they actually earn.   

For families already struggling to make ends meet, $17,000 less from the yearly paycheck is massive. For some, it might be $17,000 they don’t have to bargain their way to a better life, or $17,000 less to rely on if they are able to leave their employment. For those supporting their families from afar, it’s $17,000 less they can send home. And that’s just an estimate of the financial loss individuals face. It doesn’t begin to consider the emotional, social and physical impacts of the trauma.  

As the ILO report points out, for Governments around the world that’s a collective $396 billion that isn’t taxed due to the illegal nature of the work. And for those making the profit, this $396 billion is incentive to continue.  

So, what can we do?  

This may seem like an impossible problem to solve. But there is hope and something you can do to stop this evil trade. Dao was removed from the karaoke bar by Tearfund’s on-the-ground partner, LIFT. With support, Dao has navigated her way through counselling, adjusted to life with a new foster family, and is now pursuing literature and languages at high school.  

LIFT social worker speaking with a survivor. 

At Tearfund, we’re committed to working on this pressing justice issue – from prevention, through to legislative change! We do this across Southeast Asia and the Pacific with our partners like LIFT who undertake best-practice work in prevention and help survivors find justice and healing.  

Support our modern slavery work

As slavery is a truly global issue, there is work to be done here in New Zealand too. We’re working alongside other organisations to strengthen our country’s prevention efforts and ability to prosecute offenders appropriately.  

Our friends at ECPAT NZ have launched a critical campaign that will assist modern slavery survivors of here in New Zealand. They’re calling for the Government to resource a dedicated trafficking and exploitation hotline.  

We believe people who’ve been trafficked should be able to safely access the right information and support. Right now, there are a multitude of helplines being operated in New Zealand by different providers. Those in exploitative situations are at risk of receiving confusing or wrong advice, or their case not being recognised for what it is – exploitation!  

This needs to change.  

Can you spare a minute to sign their petition?  

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