The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has reported a dramatic rise in cases of forced labour and exploitation, as criminal networks increasingly use deceptive recruitment tactics to traffic vulnerable workers into Australia.
Marking International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on 2 December 2024, the AFP is spotlighting the plight of individuals lured by promises of legitimate work, only to find themselves trapped in conditions of forced labour, exploitation, and debt bondage—key forms of human trafficking.
Since 2018, the AFP has documented 247 reports of forced labour and exploitation, with incidents surging nearly 140 per cent over six years. Victims often endure gruelling conditions, including long hours without breaks, threats of violence, and the confiscation of personal documents such as passports and visas.
In January 2024, a Templestowe man received a prison sentence of three years and six months for forcing a victim to work 14-hour days for two consecutive years under the threat of deportation. The victim, employed at a confectionery business in Box Hill, was denied breaks and subjected to relentless exploitation.
The maritime industry has also seen rising exploitation. In December 2023, a Darwin man faced 44 charges for allegedly luring crew members to work on his fishing boat through fraudulent online advertisements, holding them against their will.
Forced labour involves coercing individuals to work against their will through threats, deception, or intimidation. Signs of victimisation include physical abuse, lack of contracts, restricted communication, and exploitative living and working conditions. Victims are often stripped of their autonomy, unable to leave their workplace or seek help.
Commander Helen Schneider, from AFP Human Exploitation, stressed the human cost of these crimes. “Criminal syndicates treat victims as commodities, forcing them into degrading conditions for profit,” she said. “We urge the public to stay vigilant and report suspicions of human trafficking to the AFP.”
In the 2023–2024 financial year alone, the AFP received 382 reports of human trafficking-related offences, including 69 cases of forced labour, 59 of sexual exploitation, and 21 of domestic servitude.
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