Chinese workers in Serbia describe exploitative conditions amid a lack of labour protections
The alleged abuse of Chinese workers in Serbia call the country’s labour policies into question, Thai police uncover an illegal surrogacy network, and End Violence Against Children partners with the Tech Coalition to launch an online safety research fund.
According to a news investigation by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Chinese workers at a Chinese-run copper mine in Serbia are, apparently, experiencing serious violations of their rights, including restrictions on their movements, 12-hour workdays and retention of their passports.
The evidence raises serious questions about the conditions facing these and other Chinese workers in Serbia and the readiness of Serbian authorities to intervene, at the risk of damaging an increasingly important diplomatic and financial relationship with China.
Over the past few years, thousands of Chinese workers have passed through Serbia, an important station along the route of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative which facilitates the transport of Chinese goods to European markets. But little is known about the terms of their employment or the conditions in which they live and work. Under the terms of a 2018 bilateral deal, Serbia’s Labour Law is temporarily suspended for Chinese nationals working in Serbia, meaning the country’s Labour Inspectorate has no right to review their contracts or find out whether or not they’ve been paid.
In interviews conducted via a mobile phone chat app, several Chinese workers – all of whom declined to be named for fear of the repercussions of speaking to the media – described working extremely long hours, being confined to their living quarters and having to hand over their passports. In January, dozens of workers tested positive for COVID-19. Perhaps most worryingly, some workers said they had signed blank contracts.
NGOs and activists in the country warn that, “Not only can the described treatment of workers be characterised as a crime of trafficking in human beings, but it is quite certain that the labour law treatment offered to them implies a complete lack of awareness of international labour standards and a complete lack of care for their health and lives.”
ASTRA, the anti-trafficking action group, said in a written response that, “They are completely unprotected, exploited for work, endangered due to the presence of the coronavirus on a construction site and in accommodation, in a foreign country whose language they do not speak, they are not in possession of their personal documentation at all times and their movement is restricted.”
Serbia’s government says the project is of vital importance to the country’s economy, but Chinese workers at the site are paying a high price. Activists are calling Serbia’s public prosecutor to act “as the interstate agreement does not grant – nor can it grant in any regular circumstances – amnesty from criminal liability.”
Here’s a round-up of other noteworthy news and initiatives:
The EU moved closer to preventing forced labour and child labour yesterday as the the European Commission closed a public consultation on the proposed new corporate due diligence law. Anti-Slavery and its partner organizations in more than 20 countries took part in this consultation calling on lawmakers to take the views of affected workers, communities and their representatives seriously.
Cyber crime police in Thailand have cracked down on an illegal transnational surrogacy network disguised for years as a cleaning company. The network used social media to recruit Thai surrogate mothers, paying them more than 500,000 baht (US$16,700) each.
In a video message for the International Day of Prayer and Reflection against Trafficking in Persons, Pope Francis calls for an economy of care, courage, and the promotion of justice aimed at building a society that puts humans at its center.
The Netherlands is suspending international adoptions after a government commission found that some children from countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia and Indonesia had been stolen or purchased from their birth parents.
Chinese sweatshops are even worse than has previously been described, according to a new report. Factories across China are allegedly forcing Uighurs to change their identity and create an overwhelming amount of daily products for global consumers.
Ivory Coast police have arrested four alleged child traffickers and rescued 19 children who, it is suspected, had been transported to work on cocoa plantations in the West African nation. Children from Burkina Faso have routinely ended up working on plantations in Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa grower.
Journalismfund.eu has launched ‘Modern Slavery Unveiled’, a project that provides critical resources and advice for journalists, to aid in investigations on exploitation of Asian victims of human trafficking and forced labour in Europe. The project comprises a grant programme for investigative journalists, a mentor programme for grantees, and a training programme for journalists and civil society organizations.
End Violence Against Children and the Technology Coalition have launched the Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund to tackle online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). From now until 11 April 2021, they are seeking proposals for research that will expand knowledge of online CSEA and explore the most effective measures for preventing it.
Unseen supports other anti-trafficking organizations by creating compelling marketing and messaging tools to help them fundraise effectively. They are currently accepting applications for new partnerships; please get in touch before 28 February.
The Freedom Story is seeking Thailand-based candidates for a short-term research project into COVID’s impact on women and girls.
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