Swift Government Action Frees Seven from Trafficked Labour
Summary:
In a rapid response, authorities have freed seven people – including a woman who is six months pregnant – from brutal labour trafficking on a remote 32-acre farm in South Asia.
The group had been forced to work 10-hour days with no breaks, tending tomatoes, mangoes, goats, and cows. Instead of wages, they were given just 25 kilograms of rice each month.
The farm owner had trapped them using false debts, created through deceptive advance payments. He also controlled their movements by allowing only one family member off the farm at a time.
When the owner found out that the pregnant woman and her partner had sought medical care at a nearby clinic without his permission, he responded with violence, beating her partner severely.
The breakthrough came when IJM’s local partner, Adhiboomi Charitable Trust (ACT), alerted a local official. Within eight hours, the official had mobilised a team of authorities, with IJM providing technical support. They investigated the farm, identified clear signs of forced labour, and swiftly moved the group to safety.
Release certificates were issued to formally cancel the false debts and free the survivors from the abusive employer’s control. Authorities are now pursuing legal action against the alleged trafficker.
Dr. K Krishnan of ACT praised the rapid response: “This case is a testament of the will of district authorities in addressing [trafficking for] labour. This approach not only sets precedence but also reassures the commitment of the government of Tamil Nadu in eliminating [this injustice] by 2030”.
This operation highlights the impact of swift, coordinated action between local authorities, partners, and IJM in confronting trafficking for labour and securing justice.