Cheap Labor

Police in Portugal arrest 35 suspected human traffickers in massive operation – Al Arabiya
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Police in Portugal arrest 35 suspected human traffickers in massive operation – Al Arabiya

Thirty-five people suspected of involvement in human trafficking have been arrested in a massive operation that mobilized around 400 officers in Portugal’s southern Alentejo region, Portuguese police said on Wednesday. A total of 65 raids were carried out, resulting in the arrest of alleged members of a human trafficking ring that illegally brought migrants to…

The False Patriotism of the Dominican Republic's Extreme Right (OPINION) – Latino Rebels
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The False Patriotism of the Dominican Republic's Extreme Right (OPINION) – Latino Rebels

Flag of the Dominican Republic Translation by Hector Luis Alamo In the Dominican Republic, the rise of the far right is shaking the very foundations of democracy, just as it is in the United States and Europe. One element that has facilitated this rise has been the irrational opposition to immigration. The vitality of democracy…

Indictment: Restaurant Owners Smuggled Brazilians for Cheap Labor
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Indictment: Restaurant Owners Smuggled Brazilians for Cheap Labor

Editor’s note: the term “illegal” should be “undocumented,” as a person cannot be illegal. Being without documentation is a potential red flag of human trafficking, so in each case, these people may be in need of help. The sordid, sophisticated, and profitable business of illegal migration is exposed in the indictments of several people who…

California Is Dependent on Prison Labor for Fighting Fires. This Must End.
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California Is Dependent on Prison Labor for Fighting Fires. This Must End.

On September 7, 2022, after many attempted delays from the City of Susanville, California, a Lassen County judge ruled in favor of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to close one of Susanville’s two prisons. The court case and public debate over the prison closure has been almost entirely based on the anticipated loss of 1,000 jobs…

Why unions can’t ignore incarcerated workers
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Why unions can’t ignore incarcerated workers

An estimated two thirds of the more than one million prisoners in the United States today are incarcerated workers. With many prisoners earning less than a dollar an hour, and those who refuse to work often facing vicious retaliation in the form of punitive solitary confinement, labor exploitation is an important part of what makes…

‘Modern day slavery’: Lawmakers, advocates seek change after Republic prison labor investigation
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‘Modern day slavery’: Lawmakers, advocates seek change after Republic prison labor investigation

Reacting to an investigation by The Arizona Republic and KJZZ, lawmakers and advocates are calling for a review of the state’s use of prison labor. “Forced prison labor is nothing more than modern day slavery, and our state’s growing reliance on this workforce is irresponsible, immoral and inexcusable,” said state Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale. “Any public…

The United States’ Practice of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts (Part One)
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The United States’ Practice of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts (Part One)

BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) — The United States’ Practice of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts August 2022 Introduction Over the years, the United States has concocted the biggest lies of the century such as the so-called “genocide” and “forced labor” in Xinjiang, in an attempt to smear and contain China. It…

Snoqualmie to use prison labor in WASHINGTON STATE public works department
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Snoqualmie to use prison labor in WASHINGTON STATE public works department

Unable to find seasonal public works employees this summer, the City of Snoqualmie has turned to correctional inmates — signing an agreement with the state Department of Corrections (DOC) that will pay inmates less than $2 an hour. While the city has no control over the pay-rate, city councilmembers, in a 6-1 vote, approved a…

World Insights: Human trafficking, forced labor feed modern slavery in U.S. – Xinhua
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World Insights: Human trafficking, forced labor feed modern slavery in U.S. – Xinhua

Migrants wait outside a shelter near the Mexico-U.S. border in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, May 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) A recent investigation by the Mexican daily Milenio, which looked into U.S. court documents, revealed the criminal organization sold 30 workers for 21,000 dollars, “as if they were cattle.” MEXICO CITY, July 9 (Xinhua) — Mexican-born Flor…

Why is Human Trafficking Happening?
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Why is Human Trafficking Happening?

You have likely seen signs in public places or commercials on television that seek to spread awareness of human trafficking. Whether you have given these postings much of your attention or not, you may have wondered, “Why does human trafficking happen?” You might have also wondered if human trafficking is as common as these signs…