This paper by ASEAN-ACT published in the Journal of Public Health and Emergency seeks to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrant workers’ vulnerability to human trafficking for forced labour in Southeast Asia.
Migrant workers already make up a large proportion of those most vulnerable to the coercion and exploitation that define human trafficking, yet few are officially identified as such. While migrants have been working in the very occupations and sectors essential to keeping societies and economies running during the pandemic, they have oftentimes been the least protected.
The authors argue that to avoid further increases in human trafficking for labour exploitation as a result of the pandemic, the vulnerabilities of migrant workers should be addressed from policy to operational levels.
How has COVID-19 affected migrant workers' vulnerability to #HumanTrafficking for forced labour in SE Asia?
— Will Nankervis (@AusAmbASEAN) May 20, 2022
Our 🇦🇺#ASEANACT team seeks to unpack this issue in an article published by the Journal of Public Health and Emergency 👉https://t.co/VoOYMgEZ3J pic.twitter.com/YTsFcKaLOu