NEWS DIGEST: Progress for some migrant workers, setbacks elsewhere this week

Qatar Says World Cup Workers Respected October 25, 2017 As Qatar gets ready to host the 2022 World Cup, it is pushing back against allegations of worker exploitation. Media reports that just before the International Labour Organization (ILO) decides whether or not to investigate Qatar for abuses, the country has signed 36 worker protection agreements with countries that provide much of its migrant labor force.   READ NOW   Indonesia Passes Migrant Worker Law October 26, 2017 Indonesia's parliament has passed a landmark new law on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PPILN), reports The Jakarta Post. The new law comes after years of campaigning by migrant worker rights groups, including Freedom United's partner Migrant Care, to end exploitation and modern slavery. It revises an older law No. 39/2004 on the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.   READ NOW   Brazil's Controversial Slavery Decree October 20, 2017 Brazilian president Michel Temer has responded to criticism of a new decree that changed the definition of slavery in the country. He says the new decree will be "perfected" but that it will not be revoked in spite of the backlash.   READ NOW   Calais Refugee Youth at Risk of Trafficking  Telesur is reporting that youth refugees who were once at the Calais camp in France are desperate for money and trading their labor for passage to the UK. Michael McHugh from the Refugee Youth Service says that traffickers promise to get these youth to the UK, but then they end up being exploited for their labor and trapped in debt bondage of thousands of dollars. Read Now >> The Truth about Canned Italian Tomatoes It has been discovered that canned tomatoes sold by two giant food producers in the UK have been harvested in Italy under conditions 'of absolute exploitation.' Italian prosecutor, Paola Guglielmi, identified Mutti and Conserve Italia as the two companies who sold the tainted products. Read Now >> Nestle Assesses Child Labor in Cocoa Supply Chain According to Nestle, the company has initiated its child labor prevention system in its Cocoa Plan, which may cover half the company's products by 2020. However, 100% coverage may never be possible. Nestle's public affairs director, Christian Frutiger, admitted that scaling up the system will "take time." Read Now >> Taking a Local Approach to Fight Slavery Recent estimates have put the number of victims of slavery in the UK around 10,000-13,000. While victims may be trafficked to the UK from anywhere in the world, the problem is inherently local and needs local solutions. Read Now >> Will ASEAN Step Up for Domestic Workers? There are almost 10 million domestic workers in Southeast Asia and Pacific. Nearly 2 million of them are migrants, comprising 20% of all migrant workers in the ASEAN region. Yet most are not protected by national labor laws. Read Now >>

MORE NEWS

Our team relies on donations from supporters like you to continue the work that is so crucial. Please keep Freedom United strong by setting up a monthly donation or chipping in $5. Your donation will help change the future.