A Close Inspection of the Inadvertent Servitude

The problem of forced labour is on the rise all across the world. As per the latest estimates published by the International Labour Organisation, there are at least a staggering 12.3 million victims of forced labour all around the world, and this is only a rough estimate. There are various sources that contribute to the rise of the forced labour, and all of them are methods of exploitation.

Who is Behind the System?

The targets of the forced labour industry are usually those that come from economically poor backgrounds and more often those that have mouths to feed at home. In most cases, these people are duped into the trap of the lucrative promise of a non-existent job; this is undertaken by private agents, human trafficking groups working as major organisations and even by an unscrupulous family member.

Why Does the System Continue to Exist?

• Domestic Slavery: Most shockingly, one of the major causes of forced labour is the system of slavery that continues to exist in various parts of the world even decades after the abolition of the apartheid and more than a hundred years after the civil war in America.  While Africa is one of the most prominent regions on this map, some countries in Asia also bear instances of this atrocity. In some cases, the job of a domestic worker can turn into a situation of slavery if the employers actually use violence and/or threats to prevent the former from seeking employment elsewhere. According to the reports published by the International Labour Organisation, the estimated number of people working as slaves across the country is a staggering amount, and it is hard to really put a finger on the number.
• Trafficking: Yet another huge contributory factor to the increase in forced labour is trafficking. The problem of human trafficking is on the rise all over the world, and the developing world countries form the pool from which these unfortunate people are drawn the most.  While the trafficking of women and female children forms the backbone of the flesh trade industry, the trafficking of men and young boys contribute to the slave trade. All in all, a rough estimate by the organisation suggests that a minimum of 2.4 million people worldwide are forced into working in brothels, factories and sweatshops.
• Militant Recruiters: Quite a few people are recruited by the rebel military groups to work among their ranks. These people are trained to handle ammunitions and employed in various capacities. A highly disturbing report recently disclosed the recruitment of minors by a militant group in Africa; these children are trained as combatants, minesweepers, cooks, couriers, servants and scouts.

Battling the Growing Threats

The government in the United Kingdom has risen to the occasion of fighting the human trafficking machinery that operates on a global scale. While the problem of forced labour is something that plagues the entire world, developed countries like the United Kingdom falls on the receiving end of the situation. Such countries with a stable economy pose as extremely lucrative markets to the human trafficking industry, and the United Kingdom alone experiences an influx of a huge percentage of the total number of humans trafficked very year from various corners of the globe. The police force of the country has joined hands with the international police task forces to tackle this situation, something that is already proving effective. According to the immigration minister of the country, Mark Harper, extensive research and the employment of skilled professionals has made the task of spotting the cases much easier and accurate.