What does human trafficking in hospitality look like?
Dressember Reading Day #18
Every day during the month of December, we’re answering common questions and breaking down different aspects of human trafficking on our blog and Instagram. Join us in raising awareness about the injustice of human trafficking by sharing, donating, or joining the Dressember campaign (it’s not too late!).
What does human trafficking in hospitality look like?
It could look like an emaciated and underpaid housemaid, workers who beg, and even as obvious as signs of physical abuse. Not only are workers in the hospitality industry subject to forced labor trafficking, but many people in the hospitality industry are witness to human trafficking as traffickers will often “take advantage of the privacy and anonymity accessible through the hospitality industry” to exploit individuals.
Ok, tell me more.
In 2016, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that $150 billion was generated at the expense of victims of human trafficking. While human trafficking is often hard to see with the naked eye, it is in our power to recognize the signs that appear the most obvious. According to the Typology of Modern Slavery, “Victims of labor trafficking have been found in hospitality businesses such as hotels, motels, resorts, or casinos working as front desk attendants, bell staff, and most frequently, in housekeeping.” And just recently, major hotel brands were accused of profiting from sex trafficking.
I had no idea...how is this happening?
The lack of awareness has caused passersby like you and I to overlook what should appear obvious – especially when it comes to the livelihood of a human being. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) stated that traffickers reap a substantial amount of money through labor and sex trafficking within the hospitality industry. Under the H-2 visa in the United States (which is most common amongst immigrant victims of trafficking), the recipient of the visa is restricted from visa portability, binding the victim to their abuser by law. Because of this, individuals in labor trafficking situations are often overlooked due to their circumstances. As the hospitality industry offers a certain degree of anonymity, traffickers as well as victims can often go undetected by external parties – including you and me.
So, what’s being done about this?
The Department of Homeland Security established a “Hospitality Toolkit” in order to educate hospitality workers about recognizing the signs of a sex or labor victim in the industry. Some of these include identifying signs of malnourishment; or food and beverage staff asking patrons for food or money. Since 2018, Dressember has partnered with Business Ending Slavery & Trafficking (BEST), to train hospitality workers on how to spot and report signs of human trafficking, and you can read about it here.
What can I do to help?
With an awareness of the issue comes the responsibility of action. Many cultures associate minding your business as being being polite. However, there is danger in silence and ignorance. Our lack of awareness comes at the expense of an individual whose reality is our nightmare. As advocates for victims of trafficking, it is our business to come to terms with the privilege we have as free people. Our silence only makes the cries of victims louder, and it is in our decency as human beings to fight for those who aren’t being heard.
Further Reading:
Human Trafficking: What Hotels are Doing to Prevent It
Global Slavery Index: Highlights
Polaris: Human Trafficking and the Hotel Industry
International Labour Organization: Statistics on forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking
Dressember: Hotel Heroes in the Fight to End Human Trafficking
Hospitality Net: Human Trafficking and the Hotel Industry: How to Combat this Crime against Women
About the Author
Kanoelehua Robinson is a Native-Hawaiian from the small town of Hilo, Hawai'i. She loves finding new music, napping on the beach, and traveling, and she is incredibly passionate about her culture. She likes to sing and play guitar, but she's not like, "you should make YouTube covers" good. With her passions in art, music, and indigenous cultures, she hopes to use them toward her future career as she studies Public Relations at Azusa Pacific University.