| WELLNESS CHECK
This edition leans... | | Hey Below the Fold fam,
Labor trafficking is a lesser known arm of human trafficking that we're giving attention to today. While it has been a problem for years, the increase in foreign workers entering the country for agricultural work paired with COVID-19 lockdowns has exacerbated the problem. | | Human trafficking posing as agriculture jobs
Over 30 years ago, the U.S. H2 visa program was split into two categories: H-2A (for agricultural workers) and H-2B (for all other industries). Companies can use the H2 program to hire foreign workers for seasonal or short-term work, provided employers have tried to find local labor and foreign workers are temporary. Further, before offering the position, employers have to interview candidates and share their rights, such as paying them twice a month and providing copies of their contract, housing, transportation, and three daily meals.
Problem is, there's growing concern over how many of these workers are being trafficked — a situation worsened by the pandemic. In fact, the number of likely labor trafficking survivors with H-2A visas increased by more than 70% during a 6-month period of the pandemic. What's going on? - First, employer power. Being responsible for everything from housing to transport not only gives the employer complete control of their workers' whereabouts and lifestyle 24/7, it also makes it easy for employers to force H2 workers into extensive hours, extended periods without pay, and other labor.
- Second, COVID-19 shut down labor offices, effectively ceasing all hiring requirements. In absence of required interviews and information disclosure, workers were starting roles without knowing their rights. As a result, the number of daily labor trafficking and exploitation reports to the National Human Trafficking Hotline doubled.
Now, 24 agricultural workers are suing their employer, claiming coerced travel to Illinois under false promises. The lawsuit details use of intimidation tactics against workers' complaints, including work without pay and threats of deportation or ruin of all prospects for another U.S. job. To make matters worse, there are many challenges to prosecuting labor trafficking crimes, such as the difficulty of proving workers were defrauded. And many survivors may even be too fearful of repercussions to come forward.
And attempts to improve conditions are being decried as simplistic solutions that will instead worsen the situation. One California city is building a massive H-2A labor camp in hopes of improving both working and living conditions for farm workers. While the facility meets the standard requirements — including 50 square feet of sleeping space per worker and 10 workers to each toilet and shower — advocates say it's not enough, especially as the facility is located in a hazardous, industrial area. They also cite concerns over giving more power to employers by housing workers in an isolated part of the city.
At the federal level, a bipartisan bill was passed in March to improve pathways to citizenship for agricultural workers. Currently stuck in the senate, some are disappointed saying the legislation does not address the root cause of labor exploitation. | | The Counter: (Where we found this story) 2 weeks old | 13 minutes long | | The H-2A program
6 minutes long | | | Illinois labor pool shrinks
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- Thursday: The crypto hamster trading live on Twitch
- Wednesday: Students speaking up over rise in anti-Black crimes
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Art Credit: Below the Fold | | | |
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