Fiji attracts numerous tourists each year, but the lush environment also serves as a destination for foreign workers brought in for exploitation. This issue is not unique to Fiji; it affects several other Pacific nations, including Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, where individuals from Southeast Asia seek better opportunities.
An extensive report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), titled “Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges and Impact,” highlights the concerning rise in human trafficking in the region. It notes an increase in foreign workers from countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in Fiji since 2017, primarily young men who hope for favorable working conditions and migration opportunities to New Zealand, Australia, or the United States.
The report indicates that many of these workers become victims of trafficking, often deceived by false promises from recruiters. In a case investigated by the Fiji Department of Immigration in 2019, 22 of 26 cases of suspected trafficking involved Indian citizens misled by economic opportunities.
According to the UNODC, Pacific Island nations at risk for trafficking may see around 2,400 potential victims annually. The fishing sector is particularly vulnerable, with reports of poor working conditions, low pay, and high risks. The industry is also connected to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, compounding the problem.
The report details instances of migrant workers having their identity documents confiscated, being subjected to forced labor, and being abandoned on remote islands. It notes that foreign workers in the fishing industry often come from South Asia and Southeast Asia and have been identified as trafficking victims across various Pacific nations.
Tragically, many of these migrants are unable to report their exploitation due to their circumstances. The UNODC emphasizes that these workers may be restricted from communicating, underpaid, or threatened with violence. In Fiji alone, between 2017 and 2021, approximately 5,200 hidden victims of trafficking were identified, primarily involving domestic trafficking into labor sectors like agriculture and construction.
Fiji has prosecuted only a handful of trafficking cases, and similar issues persist in Vanuatu, where a case involved Bangladeshi nationals brought to the country under false pretenses and subsequently enslaved. The report highlights the necessity for better data collection on trafficking and smuggling to understand the extent of the problem.
Without accurate data, it remains difficult to formulate effective policies and interventions against trafficking. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNODC have introduced a common international classification standard to enhance data gathering about trafficking cases. Furthermore, the UNODC stresses that trafficking in persons is a significant barrier to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals in the Pacific region, facilitated by organized crime and corruption, unless serious action is taken to tackle these challenges.