Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry – The Tongue Twister that is Human Trafficking and Immigration Policies
Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry – The Tongue Twister that is Human Trafficking and Immigration Policies
Last month, thirty-nine Vietnamese nationals were found dead in an HGV container in Essex[1]. The victims died in a refrigerated lorry on their transit from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in Essex, where the bodies were found. Following this tragedy, numerous individuals – in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and in Vietnam – were arrested on suspicion of human trafficking and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration[2].
As devastating as this tragedy is, it is a bleak reminder that more must be done to protect victims of human trafficking. Not least in trafficking hotspots, such as the UK, but also in jurisdictions where there is little evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking – most notably, in Hong Kong. Recently, the ‘Trafficking in Persons Report’ ranked Hong Kong on the Tier 2 Watch List; a position that it has held for several years. Under this categorisation, Hong Kong is listed as a jurisdiction where “trafficking is very significant or significantly increasing”[3]. Unsurprisingly, foreign migrants are by and large the subjects of this horrific crime. Particularly, Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) who regularly experience illegal recruitment, deception and confiscation of their documents just at employment agencies alone[4].
Preceding and foreseeing this ranking was Hong Kong’s response: the “Action Plan to Tackle Trafficking in Persons”. It included; “vigorous employment actions” to ensure employment agencies are compliant, enhanced officer training to aid prevention and plans to afford FDWs immunity from prosecution[5]. However, these plans can only do so much. As Bishop rightly notes, if Hong Kong wants to shed its image as a poor defender of human trafficking then increasing funding and resourcing for the Employment Agencies Administration is desperately needed[6]. After all, fifteen officers inspecting 1,400 employment agencies is far from adequate[7].
But this issue extends beyond resourcing. In fact, trafficking – and other related crimes like smuggling – are highly political. Tragedies, like the deaths in Essex, are all too frequent[8]. And, it is now time that we open our eyes to reality. Collectively, we have all been blind to the impact of restrictive immigration policies and how they have forced migrants towards desperation. Couple this, with a relatively ineffective system of international shaming and it is clear that we must change our political outlook. Beginning with, governmental co-operation and a shift in how we perceive migrants and the value they bring to society. This is essential. For the sake of past victims, at the very least.
BBC News, ‘Essex Lorry Deaths: 39 Bodies Found in Refrigerated Trailer’ (London, 23 October 2019) <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50150070> accessed 20 November 2019
Henry McDonald, ‘Man to Appear in Court on Monday Over Essex Lorry Deaths’ (London, 24 November 2019) <https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/24/man-charged-with-human-trafficking-over-essex-lorry-deaths> accessed 24 November 2019
Department of State United States of America, ‘Trafficking in Persons Report June 2019’ (United States Department of State Publication Office 2019) 226 – 229
David Bishop, ‘Why Hong Kong’s Reputation as a Human Trafficking Black Spot is Justified’ (Hong Kong, 4 September 2018) <https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/hong-kong/article/2162485/why-hong-kongs-reputation-human-trafficking-black> accessed 18 November 2019
Hong Kong Government, ‘Action Plan to Tackle Trafficking in Persons and to Enhance Protection of Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong’ (Hong Kong Government 2018) 12 – 20
David Bishop, ‘Why Hong Kong’s Reputation as a Human Trafficking Black Spot is Justified’ (Hong Kong, 4 September 2018) <https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/hong-kong/article/2162485/why-hong-kongs-reputation-human-trafficking-black> accessed 18 November 2019
Ibid.
HC Deb 23 October 2019, Volume 666, Column 975 as per Jackie Doyle-Price (Thurrock) (Conservative)