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Forced Labor

Why Forced labor is the Leading Form of Human Trafficking

DATE PUBLISHED: 04/03/25

"Forced labor generates $236 billion annually worldwide. It is a modern-day form of slavery that exploits millions for profit." - ILO, 2024

For years, the narrative around human trafficking has been largely dominated by stories of sexual exploitation. While this devastating form of abuse remains a critical concern, a recent shift in global trafficking trends demands our attention. As the United Nations' 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons reveals, forced labor has surpassed sexual exploitation as the leading form of human trafficking worldwide. This underscores the urgent need to understand forced labor, its manifestations, and what we can do to combat this often-hidden form of modern slavery.

Understanding Forced labor

Forced labor goes beyond the image of a sweatshop. It encompasses a wide range of exploitative situations where individuals are compelled to work against their will through force, fraud, or coercion. Key characteristics of forced labor include:

Involuntary Servitude: Individuals are forced to work under threat of penalty or coercion.
Lack of Freedom: Victims are unable to leave their employment or control their working conditions.
Exploitation for Profit: The primary motive is economic gain for the trafficker or exploiter.
Diverse Sectors: Forced labor occurs in a multitude of industries, including agriculture, fishing, construction, domestic work, manufacturing, mining, and online scam operations.
Rise in Forced Criminality: Increasingly, victims are forced to commit crimes like online scams or drug smuggling, creating a cycle of victimization.

How the trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000,Defines It

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, defines “severe forms of trafficking in persons” as:
the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
A victim need not be physically transported from one location to another for the crime to fall within this definition.

The Story of Kwame

Kwame, a hardworking young man from a struggling community, was lured by the promise of a lucrative job in a booming agricultural sector. Kwame was promised transportation, lodging and steady wages. Unfortunately Kwame was captured by the recruiter that seized his passport. The promises of help were turned into long hours harvesting dangerous chemicals and being isolated from any form of communication. Kwame's story, similar to many, shows the devastating impact of false promises, restricted freedom, threats and abuse.
His escape was possible after finding a group of activist online that helped him get in contact with local authorities. Kwame is now healing from the mental, physical and emotional trauma he experienced. Kwame is going to use his experience to help others from falling into these dangerous situations by partnering with Unseen partners.

Unseen's Response

Unseen Guardians is dedicated to combating forced labor through a multi-faceted approach, working with partners to provide critical support for survivors:

CLF - Creative Life Foundation (Thailand): Connects vulnerable children and parents to vital resources—education, citizenship, and holistic care—creating pathways to freedom and preventing human trafficking. Addressing basic needs is essential to reducing vulnerability to forced labor.
HUS - Hagar USA (Afghanistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Singapore): Offers restoration and rehabilitation services for women and children who have endured human trafficking, slavery, and abuse across the Asia-Pacific region, empowering them to heal and thrive.
SEEDS - Supporting Every Eve’s Daughter Safely (Canada): Provides a safe house and restorative aftercare for women who have survived sex trafficking or exploitation. Their long-term programs include medical aid, therapy, education, life skills training, and job placement to help survivors rebuild their lives.

Unseen partners with 32 organizations across 24 countries and has supported 86 anti-trafficking and humanitarian organizations in 64 countries since 2011. These partnerships create a comprehensive, interconnected response to human trafficking and exploitation on a global scale.

What You Can Do

Understand and Spread Awareness: Share this information and engage in discussions about forced labor with your family and friends. Raising awareness is key to stopping the spread of this crime.
Become an Unseen Guardian: Invest in the fight against forced labor. Your support helps identify and assist those most affected, while promoting safer work environments.
Stay Aware: Pay attention to your community. If you notice something suspicious, report it. Your vigilance can save someone from falling into this exploitative cycle.

The time to act is now!

By joining forces with Unseen Guardians, you are helping survivors escape forced labor and providing them with the resources they need to regain their independence. Together, we can create a safer world for future generations.