Combating Human Trafficking Combat THB is a Project of: This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Osama’s Story

Osama’s Story: A Summary Moved to another country Had to pay to gain a job – took out a loan from a money lender Falsely promised a good job as a chef Worked long hours on range of unrelated tasks Lived in squalid, cramped conditions Meagre salary failed to cover debt at home Threatened with organ removal and reprisals from powerful family in Bangladesh Suffered emotional and physical abuse

What is Human Trafficking (THB)? “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation”. Movement Coercion Deception Abuse Control Exploitation Art 2, Directive 2011/36/EU; Art. 4, Council of Europe Convention on Action against Human Trafficking 2005; Art. 3 UN 2000, page 42.

What type of THB? Forced prostitution Forced /bonded labour Forced criminality Domestic servitude Forced organ removal Exploitation of children (begging, sex trade & warfare)

The Victim’s Journey

Spotting Signals What are the signals that might alert you to there being something wrong? In the recruitment process? Working conditions in the hotel? Living conditions of the worker? Overall appearance and behaviour of the worker?

Potential Signals Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his work Worker appears to be without written contracts of employment and have had to pay direct fees to obtain work Is paid very little, works excessively long hours and unfairly treated Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off Possibly signs of physical abuse (bruises, black eyes, burns, scars) or maltreatment (extreme exhaustion or malnutrition) Emotional abuse - acts fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid Victim and/or family been threatened with harm if the victim attempts to escape

Erecting Barriers What barriers could be erected when: recruiting staff to the hotel if working alongside Osama and his colleagues as a co-worker?

Potential Barriers The hotel should be working within the Immigration laws. The hotel should work within the Dhaka principles on employment agencies. Examples of questions that you might ask to follow up on the signals you have become alerted to as a co-worker include: Can you leave your job if you want to? Can you come and go as you please? Have you been hurt or threatened if you tried to leave? Has your family been threatened? Do you live with your employer? Where do you sleep and eat? Are you in debt to your employer?