As long as migration in search of work and livelihood has been an intrinsic part of the world economy, various forms of human exploitation have tended to co-exist. Supplementing reliable estimates from reports by international organisations with information from media and academic sources, this chapter outlines locations and persistence of trafficking, bondage, coercion and smuggling, not only in the developing world but also in industrial economies. It endeavours to model the antecedent push-pull factors such as civil strife, trade policies, climate change and poverty and consequent links to specific types of work in selected industries. Tentative proposals are made by the author for tackling this dark trade through worker empowerment, decriminalising victims, consumer sensitisation and source de-marketing. Since labour exploitation is associated with employee relations, occupational stress, industrial sociology, workplace health-and-safety, public policy and human rights, practitioners and researchers are urged to address the plight for these invisible workers.
5. Estimates of human trafficking
by regions
Regions Numbers Trafficked
Asia-Pacific 9,490,000
Latin America/Caribbean 1,320,000
Sub-Saharan Africa 660,000
Mid-East & North Africa 260,000
Industrialised Countries 360,000
Transition Countries 210,000
Source: Quirk (2008)
11. Origin of trafficked women
in European countries
Region Percentage
Africa 28.0%
Balkans 20.8%
Central Europe 5.8%
Baltics and CIS 19.7%
Other/ Unknown 25.1%
Source: Laczko et al (2002)
