Tag: human trafficking

Following the police's investigation into the potential human trafficking of dozens of Filipino seafarers in the country's shipping industry, New Zealand transport workers’ unions are calling on their government to put Fiji on notice. To remind, Fijian authorities launched an investigation into a ferry operator's allegedly ongoing abusive treatment of dozens of Filipino seafarers. In fact, ITF reported that staff at Goundar Shipping tried to confiscate a number of seafarers’ passports and other documents upon beginning work with the company. Investigations by unions have uncovered allegations of widespread abuse, underpayment, unsafe conditions, and even of human trafficking and slavery, in New Zealand’s own backyard. ...said Paul Tolich, chair of the ITF New Zealand National Coordinating Committee. In addition, Mr Tolich said that New Zealand unions welcomed news that a Police investigation has finally been launched, but that fears of a potential whitewash remain once the seafarers leave the country back to the Philippines. "I am writing on behalf of our affiliates to the New Zealand ministers of Foreign Affairs and Workplace Relations, urging them to raise the seafarers’ case immediately with their counterparts in Suva. Fiji needs to know that, as New Zealanders, we expect a thorough investigation of the ...

According to ITF, Fijian authorities recently launched an investigation into a ferry operator's allegedly ongoing abusive treatment of dozens of Filipino seafarers.

The International Transport Intermediaries Club is warning that human traffickers are exploiting the crew change crisis in order to smuggle illegal immigrants through ports. 

Liberia Maritime Authority advises operators to lookout for possible sightings of vessels engaged in human trafficking in the Andaman Sea and the northern part of Straits of Malacca including coastal areas off Bangladesh/off Myanmar. 

July 30 is the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The evil of modern slavery affects an estimated 25 million people around the world.

The 2019 Trafficking in Persons report, was published by US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, focusing on government efforts to tackle human trafficking and highlights strategies to address this crime and protect the victims. This year’s report, the 19th installment, includes narratives for 187 countries and territories, including the U.S.

Thailand is the first country in Asia to accept the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), that protects the living and working conditions of fishers onboard vessels. The Convention has specific requirements related to work on board fishing vessels, including occupational safety and health, medical care at sea and ashore, rest periods, written work agreements, and social security protection.

In a recent paper, UNODC focused on different examples of fisheries crime to illustrate its various methods, its extent and its economic value. Fisheries crime relates to a range of illegal activities in fisheries, including illegal fishing, document fraud, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

The 'Human Trafficking and IUU Fishing Act' would add the Secretary of Commerce to the President’s existing Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, in response to the growing human trafficking, forced labor, and human rights abuses in global seafood supply chain.

Six Tunisian fishers have been put on trial in Italy after their trawler helped 14 migrants, by towing their small vessel into Italian waters. All the crew were arrested on people smuggling charges, even though they claimed to have alerted the Italian coastguard that there was a boat in distress.