Labor Trafficking in Cameroon and Kuwait

Overview

More than three million migrant workers every year, most of them women, leave their countries to work as domestic laborers, often in conditions some say border on slavery. Human trafficking is especially grave in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East. PBS NewsHour special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro begins his report from the West African nation of Cameroon. It’s part of his series, Agents for Change.

Videos

 Discussion Questions

  1. What problems can you identify in this story? Are solutions presented?
  2. In what way might this story be relevant in your community?
  3. Human trafficking is a $150 billion industry, the third largest criminal activity in the world. Most of it is labor trafficking, but sex trafficking gets more attention. Why do you think that is?
  4. Kuwait has a domestic labor law, but it lacks teeth. Why do you think strengthening the law and enforcement is difficult?

 Writing Prompts (250 Words)

Katie Ford asks why labor trafficking isn’t called slavery. Why don’t you think it is?