A new book recently released in Cork unearthed new data which claims there are at least six people at anytime who are being trafficked for sex in Cork City, and that there are countless others who are being trafficked in Australia for work.
The Cork Independent reports on the new book 'Open Secrets: An Irish Perspective on Trafficking & Witchcraft' authored by David Lohan and Dr Jennifer DeWan. The book was officially launched in Cork this week with the support of Cois Tine, a Cork based immigrant support group. On hand at the launch were both the mayors of Cork City and County Cork.
Through research, David Lohan discovered and brought to light what he calls “startling” data from the Trafficking in Persons Report which is issued annually by the US Department of State.
“The most startling aspect of this report is the fact that it went completely unreported on this side of the world even though it happened over three years ago,” said Lohan of the 2009 Report.
“The sad thing about researching this book is that there is endless information about human trafficking out there and sometimes people don't realize the extent of it."’
Lohan is referring to the 2009 Trafficking in Person Report which found that "some men and women from ... Ireland are fraudulently recruited to work temporarily in Australia, but subsequently are subjected to conditions of forced labour, including confiscation of travel documents, confinement and threats of serious harm."
The 2009 data shows for the first time definitively that there is a “deliberate exploitation of Irish workers.”
In 2008, a construction company in Perth, Australia was slapped with the largest fine ever for violations of the Workplace Relations Act with at a total of AUD$174,000. They were charged for “the deliberate exploitation of Filipino and Irish migrant workers.”
While the exact number of Irish workers who were embroiled in the case was not reported, it is known that they were all on 457 visas. “They were not entitled to move between employers and they were presented with undated work agreements while being denied the required documents outlining their rights,” reports the Cork Independent.
At the time of the case, Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans welcomed the fine and warned that the exploitation of workers would not be tolerated by his Government.
"Slavery exists in Ireland today because the reality is that there is a demand. Irish people are willing to use, abuse and exploit their fellow human beings for economic benefit or their own gratification."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.shablon | May 30, 2012, 03:44 PM EDT
Sex slavery in Australia has been around for decades. I worked on the giant Snowy River project 50 years ago when traffickers were bringing enslaved sex slaves in campers to offer us, workers for a fee
bogsidebunny | May 30, 2012, 06:34 AM EDT
The Gardai are their usual efficient selves. Today's Irish Times ran a story about brothels. The Gardai raided 120 (One Hundred and Twenty) brothels yesterday and arrested 3 (Three) people. That's some catch!
ciaradexy | May 27, 2012, 05:12 PM EDT
Aleksey, Aus has an excellent reputation as being very fair to employees. I have mates who had that visa as I did myself. I decided to come home and continue my studies but they stayed on. A couple of them had issues with not getting enough hours but they werent trafficked or treated badly. They went to immigration who told them if they could get another job offer they could transfer their visa over to the new employer if the employer ok'd this which is something my bro had to do in NZ. he got his residency last week. While Im gutted for selfish reasons (I miss the bones of him!), Im delighted for him and his English girlfriend.
Aleksey | May 26, 2012, 10:56 PM EDT
@ciaradexy the article might be exaggerating a bit, but workers on 457 type visas might indeed have condition 8107 on their visa which states that visa holder must not work for another employer. It could be tricky to find another employer who would be willing to be a visa sponsor etc so in such situations workers are somewhat dependant on their original employer/sponsor.
Searlit | May 26, 2012, 12:15 PM EDT
@ciaradexy, human-trafficking has been a problem all over the world for probably 20 years or so. I'm saying Ireland's got the chance to nip it in the bud. Children and women have been forced into servitude (virtual slavery) and sexual slavery from countries like Thailand, India, and European countries as well.
ciaradexy | May 26, 2012, 05:22 AM EDT
This article also has a load of different stories in it. So irish people are being trafficked and exploited in Australia,Filipinos are being exploited in Aus, people are being trafficked and exploited in ireland by irish people or we are keeping slaves. Which is it?
ciaradexy | May 26, 2012, 05:19 AM EDT
Seriously, who writes this cr@p?? For an Irish person to get an Australian migrant visa, they have to go through a very stringent set of application procedures. They must have skills and qualifications, experience plus may also have to do an exam to assess their skill set. So when they get the migrant visa, they are not tied to any specific employer which means THEY CANNOT BE EXPLOITED!!! And certain not trafficked! What is wrong with you people? Seriously? is it such a slow news day in the countries you are actually from that you feel the need to make this stuff up about MY country and then the gullible idiots on here actually believe it?
Searlit | May 25, 2012, 11:35 PM EDT
The law needs to lower the boom on slavery of any kind. They should get busy making new laws that will take the profit out of these misadventures, as well as, enforce existing laws to their fullest extent. Save the good part of society that you have left. Don't let things continue to spiral out of control.
SingleDonald | May 25, 2012, 10:55 PM EDT
Despicable! Reprehensible! Human traffickers should be shot, both the pimps & the slave drivers! Remember the movie, "Cool Hand Luke"? Paul Newman, as Luke, was imprisoned in a southern state, for ripping off parking meters. He was placed in a slave labor camp. At the end of the movie, following an escape, he decides that death would be preferable to going back. So, when they come for him, in a church, he mimics the warden, "What we have here is a failure to communicate"!! He is shot for this sarcastic outburst, and soon dies. George Kennedy, playing a fellow inmate, praises Luke in the end, saying that he wouldn't let them beat him. He chose death over slavery.
bobby | May 25, 2012, 09:55 PM EDT
Slavery? Brought in my the American companies. Also american companies employ just under 100,000 people in ireland. Irish companies employ a similar amount in the states.
LoyalCitizen | May 25, 2012, 05:27 PM EDT
@Murph46: The figures are much higher for pretentious American Corporations who get way too much from traitorous Irish Politicians who are keeping the Irish in servitude as a ready made work force...........What you need to do is watch while retarded Irish Politicians lose the money and the ability to finance your corporations.........Things will change........What is coming your way???????????
EphraimKibbey | May 25, 2012, 01:25 PM EDT
@bunkerhill - The article doesn't say that the criminals were Irish just their victims!
Bythebay | May 25, 2012, 12:37 PM EDT
Re-read the article, Irish men and women were fraudulently recruited to work in Australia where they were enslaved. Irish workers were exploited.
bunkerhill | May 25, 2012, 11:45 AM EDT
Are there no depths to which "some" Irish will sink to demean themselves? There seriously has to be some scientific study to see why these people are so self deprecating as they are not representative of the Irish as a whole, but they do pull everyone else down.
Murph46 | May 25, 2012, 11:28 AM EDT
Gee Loyal C...... Slavery in Ireland ,not by those mean old American Corporations!