On the Social Justice Day, I would like to shed light on trafficking in persons as one of the most inacceptable forms of inequality.
Trafficking has been dealt with mostly from a criminal law perspective. Today it should be primarily seen as a matter of social justice and human rights.
Estimates show that more than twenty million people are involved in a global illegal business: women, men, girls and boys are severely exploited without receiving any salary, and living in degrading conditions. Trafficked persons consistute today an enormous population providing cheap or even unpaid work and services only to enrich intermediaries and final exploiters. Workers’ agency, solidarity, unionization are the most powerful tools to achieve justice and better working and living conditions.
Companies should establish plans aimed at identifying and reducing risks of exploitation, and be held accountable for not taking action to eradicate trafficking, slavery and forced labour from their supply chains.