Fiji attracts thousands of tourists each year, but it also serves as a destination for foreign workers seeking better opportunities, many of whom are lured into the country under grim circumstances. This phenomenon is not isolated to Fiji; at least six other Pacific nations, including Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, also face similar challenges.
A recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) titled “Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges and Impact,” highlights the growing issue of human trafficking in the region. Since 2017, Fiji has seen an influx of foreign workers from countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, many of whom are men aged 25 to 45 seeking favorable working conditions and potential migration to countries like New Zealand, Australia, or the United States.
The report notes that these individuals can fall victim to trafficking when misled by recruiters. For instance, among 26 suspected trafficking cases investigated by Fiji’s Department of Immigration as of 2019, 22 involved individuals from India who were deceived with false promises of economic opportunities.
The UNODC estimates that about 2,400 victims of trafficking could be generated annually across the Pacific countries susceptible to such crimes. The fishing industry in particular poses significant risks, characterized by poor working conditions, low pay, and extended periods at sea, which can lead to physical isolation for workers. The report emphasizes concerns over forced labor in this sector, stating that fatalities among fishers are notably higher compared to other industries.
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is linked to trafficking, especially within the tuna industry. Reports have surfaced regarding migrant workers having their identification documents confiscated, being trapped in forced labor, and being abandoned on remote islands by captains after their service is no longer needed.
Migrant workers, mainly from South Asia and Southeast Asia, have been recognized as victims of trafficking in several Pacific Island Countries and Territories. Incidents of sexual exploitation connected to foreign fishing vessels also raise alarm. For example, Micronesia has documented instances of local women and girls being trafficked for sexual exploitation near the domestic fishing industry. Similar cases occurred in Fiji, Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Solomon Islands.
Workers taken to these Pacific islands often find themselves unable to report their hardships. They’re sometimes restricted from communication, underpaid, or threatened with violence to carry out longer hours or different tasks than initially agreed upon. In Fiji, it is estimated that there were around 5,200 hidden victims of trafficking from 2017 to 2021, primarily involving domestic trafficking of Fijians into forced labor across various industries.
The report indicated that Fiji successfully prosecuted four trafficking cases from 2010 to 2021, which included two cases of cross-border trafficking and two cases involving domestic trafficking of children. Some cases related to domestic trafficking of children for commercial sexual exploitation are still under investigation or prosecution.
In Vanuatu, only one significant trafficking case has emerged in recent years, involving Bangladeshi nationals who were brought to the country with promises of work but ended up in enslavement conditions. In October 2018, twelve migrants escaped from Port Vila and sought help from local authorities, leading to the rescue of a total of 101 Bangladeshi victims. Four individuals connected to this case were sentenced to prison after a lengthy legal process.
The UNODC emphasized the need for stronger data collection regarding trafficking and migrant smuggling in the Pacific to accurately assess the situation. The report points out that a lack of awareness and understanding of trafficking crimes makes victims hard to identify and help.
To address this, the UNODC and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have developed a standardized classification system aimed at improving data on trafficking in persons. This initiative seeks to enhance countries’ capacities for collecting and analyzing data on trafficking victims, thereby aiding in effectively combating these crimes in the region.
The report underscores that trafficking and migrant smuggling will likely persist as long as transnational organized crime collaborates with local criminals, often facilitated by corrupt officials unless decisive action is taken to combat these corruption challenges.