Fiji attracts thousands of vacationers yearly, but this picturesque destination also draws in those seeking refuge from poverty, often under less than savory circumstances. This problem extends to at least six other Pacific nations—Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu—where the allure of a better life encourages foreign workers, primarily from Southeast Asia, to migrate.
A recent comprehensive report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) titled “Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges and Impact” highlights the grim realities of human trafficking in the Pacific. The document notes a significant rise in foreign workers from nations such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in Fiji since 2017.
The UNODC indicates that these workers, primarily men aged 25 to 45, are often drawn by the promise of favorable conditions in Fiji and opportunities to migrate to Australia, New Zealand, or the United States. However, some of these workers become victims of trafficking when misled by recruiters. The report reveals that out of 26 cases of suspected trafficking investigated by the Fiji Department of Immigration as of 2019, 22 involved false promises of economic opportunities made to Indian nationals.
The issue of human trafficking in Pacific nations is dire, with UNODC estimating that around 2,400 individuals could fall victim to trafficking each year. The report particularly emphasizes the fishing industry, where workers frequently face poor labor conditions, low wages, and long periods at sea, which can leave them isolated. The report raises alarms about forced labor within this sector, noting that employees on fishing vessels may experience labor rights violations and human trafficking. Moreover, illegal and unregulated fishing practices are linked to human trafficking in industries like tuna fishing.
The UNODC reports numerous instances where migrant workers have had their identification documents taken away, found themselves in forced labor scenarios, or have been abandoned by captains on remote islands as a punishment. Many migrants from South and Southeast Asia have been identified as trafficking victims across various Pacific Island countries and territories. The report also pointed to instances of sexual exploitation near foreign fishing boats, including suspected trafficking of local women and girls for sexual purposes in the domestic fishing industry.
Migrants brought into these regions often cannot voice their suffering due to their precarious circumstances. The UNODC reveals that these workers may face restrictions on communication, receive little or no pay, and be coerced into working longer hours or performing different tasks through threats. The report highlights that, upon arrival, some foreign workers are presented with unfamiliar contracts containing new, unfavorable terms.
Specifically for Fiji, the UNODC estimates around 5,200 hidden trafficking victims existed between 2017 and 2021, mainly involving the domestic trafficking of Fijians into forced labor in sectors like agriculture, forestry, construction, services, and retail. Over the past decade, Fiji has successfully prosecuted four trafficking cases, including two involving the trafficking of children, with various other cases in different stages of investigation. Notably, potential cases of trafficking involving local women and girls have surfaced in Fiji, Palau, Marshall Islands, and Solomon Islands.
In Vanuatu, only one major trafficking case has been documented, involving Bangladeshi nationals who were promised jobs but ultimately faced enslavement. Twelve migrants escaped their exploitative conditions in 2018 and sought help from local authorities. Following a lengthy legal process, four traffickers were sentenced in 2022.
The UNODC emphasizes the critical need for improved data collection concerning trafficking and smuggling in the Pacific as existing data is insufficient. Due to many victims being hidden and isolated, obtaining accurate data on the prevalence of trafficking is challenging. The report calls for standardized indicators for better data measurement and a robust evidence base to aid policymakers in combating these issues.
To assist with this, the UNODC and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have developed the International Classification Standard for Administrative Data on Trafficking in Persons (ICS-TIP) to enhance quality data collection and reporting on trafficking incidents. The report stresses that without concrete measures to counter these crimes, transnational organized crime engaged in trafficking and migrant smuggling will persist, often colluding with local criminals and corrupt officials in the Pacific region, hindering progress towards Sustainable Development Goals.