Fiji is a popular destination for holidaymakers drawn to its beautiful landscapes, yet it also attracts vulnerable individuals brought into the country for less noble purposes. This troubling trend is evident across several Pacific nations, including Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, where foreign workers often come in search of better opportunities, primarily from Southeast Asia.
A recent report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) titled “Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges and Impact” sheds light on the issue of human trafficking in the region. The report indicates a rise in foreign laborers from countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka entering Fiji since 2017. These workers, typically men aged 25 to 45, are lured by the promise of favorable work conditions and the chance to migrate to countries such as New Zealand, Australia, or the United States.
The report highlights that some workers become victims of trafficking while searching for labor migration opportunities, often misled by unscrupulous recruiters. In 2019, the Fiji Department of Immigration investigated 26 suspected trafficking cases, with 22 linked to false economic promises made to Indian nationals.
UNODC estimates that Pacific nations prone to trafficking could have around 2,400 victims annually. The fishing industry, which is particularly vulnerable to labor exploitation, is mentioned as experiencing poor working conditions, low wages, and significant risks, with workers facing isolation at sea for extended periods.
The report also reveals concerning practices in the fishing sector, including forced labor, identity document confiscation, and instances of workers being abandoned on deserted islands. Additionally, it cites reports of sexual exploitation associated with foreign fishing vessels in some Pacific Island countries, leading to concerns over the trafficking of local women and girls.
Migrants often find themselves unable to voice their suffering due to various restrictions on communication, non-payment, threats of violence, and coerced changes in their job duties. The report estimated that during the period between 2017 and 2021, Fiji had approximately 5,200 hidden trafficking victims, primarily among its own citizens coerced into forced labor in various industries.
While Fiji has prosecuted a few trafficking cases since 2010, including two cross-border cases and domestic trafficking of children, many cases have encountered obstacles such as insufficient evidence or victims unwilling to testify. Similarly, in Vanuatu, a notable case involved Bangladeshi migrants who, after being promised jobs, were subjected to slavery until their escape in 2018 led to a legal resolution resulting in prison sentences for the traffickers.
The UNODC report calls for improved data collection on trafficking and migrant smuggling in the Pacific, noting that a lack of awareness and understanding of these issues hampers efforts to identify and assist victims. The report emphasizes the importance of accurate data in shaping effective policies and interventions against trafficking and migrant smuggling.
To address these challenges, the UNODC and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have developed the International Classification Standard for Administrative Data on Trafficking in Persons (ICS-TIP), aimed at facilitating the collection and sharing of reliable data on trafficking cases.
The report underscores that trafficking in persons poses a significant obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Pacific, with illicit activities supported by corrupt officials and local criminals continuing unless concerted efforts are made to tackle corruption in the region.