Casework
Forced Labour
35 results:
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đź“° News
Two boys freed after being trafficked to jewellery factory
August 2026 Two teenage boys who had been trapped in forced labour at a jewellery factory have been brought to safety following an operation led by local authorities and supported by IJM's local partner. The boys had been trafficked from their hometown to a gold jewellery factory, where they were forced to work 13 to 14 hours a day. For five months, the team worked persistently to build enough intelligence to support an operation to bring the boys to safety. -
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34 boys free from exploitative pottery business
June 2026 Authorities, with the support of IJM, have brought 34 boys to safety in South Asia after they were trafficked into forced labour at a pottery business. After being brought to safety, the boys received food and medical care. Authorities are now working to secure Release Certificates for the boys, cancelling the false debts that trapped their families. -
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518 People are Now Free
May 2026 518 people, including around 200 children, have been freed from forced labour through a government-led operation supported by IJM and local partners. Children had been forced to work alongside their parents, moulding and carrying heavy bricks each day. The government is coordinating the survivors’ return home , where IJM will work with partners and local authorities to support long-term care and recovery. -
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137 people brought to safety in 10 days
3 March: Survivor leaders supported authorities to bring a young couple – including a woman five months pregnant – to safety from forced labour at a goat farm. 9 March: 24 people , including nine children, were brought to safety from forced labour on a sugarcane farm. 13 March: A 13 ‑ year ‑ old boy forced to tend goats to repay a family debt was brought safely home by one of IJM’s new local partners after a year of isolation and harsh conditions. -
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AI tool helps bring seven people to safety
March 2026 A devastating workplace injury to a 16-year-old boy sparked a successful operation to bring seven people to safety from a dangerous tire rim factory in South Asia – after one of the labourers bravely sought help using an AI tool. The platform advised him to report the case to the district government, police, or IJM’s local partner – and he managed to make contact. Authorities brought all seven labourers to safety and filed charges against the factory owners. This case shows how courageous action – paired with strong collaboration between authorities and local partners – can bring people to safety from exploitation. -
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18 people brought to safety from forced labour
February 2026 Local authorities in South Asia brought three families – including 10 children – to safety from an isolated farm. In addition to Raju’s family, they found two other families – including many young children – trapped in similar conditions. Police also filed a legal case against the farm owner. This case shows what’s possible when authorities and local partners take bold action – and reinforces the growing momentum to protect families from forced labour. -
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Young Mother and Four Children Freed from Forced Labour
At the end of 2025, local authorities led a rapid operation to bring a young mother and her four children to safety from a rural cattle farm in South Asia, where they had been trapped in forced labour for almost three years. In 2022, the mother, her husband, and their three children had moved to the farm after being promised secure work and a better life. Soon after, they conducted an operation to bring the family to safety, arrest the farm owner, and secure the unpaid wages. -
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12-year-old boy reunited with mum
He was only eight when a farm owner tricked his mum and trafficked him. For four long years, he was forced to tend over 300 goats, slept outside with no protection, and couldnt see his family. -
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A Baby Has Been Born Free
After a government-led operation in South Asia – supported by IJM – 22 people were freed from forced labour trafficking on a sugarcane farm. One woman, forced to work through her pregnancy to full-term, gave birth in freedom the very next day. -
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Three Boys Freed from Forced Labour
A year ago, these boys had been lured with upfront cash payments and false promises of good food and easy work. But, as soon as they arrived at the worksite, they were trafficked into brutal and exhausting conditions with little food and no safe place to rest. -
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Man convicted for trafficking a teenager to Bangkok
The boy, who is now waiting to return home to Myanmar, shared, I would like to thank the court and the government shelter who took good care of me. I would also like to thank IJM who supported me throughout the legal case. -
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Teenage girl trafficked into forced scamming in the Philippines
Putri*, a teenage girl from Indonesia, was recently reunited with her family after she was brought to safety from forced scamming in the Philippines.