Labour Exploitation Trafficking and Migrant Health

Cuts and punctures of the fingers or hand were the most common accidents reported by both victims
of trafficking and migrant workers. It appeared that most interviewees were not provided with cutresistant
gloves made of flexible metallic strings or thimbles to protect their hands. Luis, a 41-yearold
victim of trafficking, out it this way: “There were always people cutting their fingers, that is why
there was the protective glove, but sometimes they were so selfish that we didn’t even use it.”
All those interviewed worked in their regular clothes, based on the season (for example, shorts and
t-shirts during summer).
Workplace-related health risks and outcomes
Respiratory problems – colds, flu, asthma and in particular tuberculosis – were the main physical
problem reported by the interviewees. This was likely related to combined exposures to dust,
working in crowded places with other tuberculosis-infected colleagues and the chronic or prolonged
sleep deprivation that weakens the body’s immune system. 65 Participants clearly associated the
dust with respiratory problems. Said Clara, a 28-year-old migrant worker: “Because most workshops
have windows you know, because of the dust (...) because if you absorb that it gives you broncho,
bronchiolitis, you know? It attacks the lungs and those things (...) I don’t know what they call that
disease but it’s caused by the dust in the lungs (...) coughing, spitting up blood, I don’t know what
the disease is called (...) where I lived, there was a man next door in another room who spit up blood.
That’s contagious, and it happens because of the dust in the workshop.”
Musculoskeletal symptoms such as back problems, neck pain and numbness in the extremities (arms)
were reported. Ana, a 35-year-old migrant worker, spoke of the effects of bending over the sewing
machine: “This part here would get numb [motions to arm] from bending over the machine (...) or
from having the neck twisted like this, you see? (...) there are times when it gets numb from being
bent over, so the only thing I do is step outside for a while and move my arms, and it goes away
(...) I noticed that bending over like this hurts a lot.” These problems may have resulted from bad
ergonomics and the working posture, as sewing machine operators had to sit in a bent-over position
for long periods of time and make repetitive movements. Those working as assistants lifted heavy
objects when moving packed piles of clothes or managing heavy kitchen items, like heavy pots.
Ironers and assistants reported standing for long periods of time.
Sewing machine operators reported eye problems such as blurred vision, eye pain (itching or
conjunctivitis) and loss of eyesight. Luz a 27-year-old migrant worker, reported suffering from eye
irritation that she related to be exposed to dust: “When you rub [your eye with] your hand and you
are working with the fabric it hurts, or if you place the light near the machine because you want
to see more, the light so close can hurt (...) sometimes got irritated, that was because of the dust
(...) I went to the eye doctor because he told me I wasn’t in good shape, I got conjunctivitis from an
infection.” This could be related to having to concentrate on very fine work for long periods of time,
the presence of dust in the environment and the overall lack of adequate illumination.
Skin conditions were also reported. Some interviewees said that they suffered from skin irritation
due to constant contact with dust particles. Hugo, a 21-year-old migrant worker, noted: “It is normal
(...) after finishing working I had to change my clothes and take a shower (...) if not it stings (...)
you scratch (...) it becomes red.” There were reports of bug bites (although from which type of bug
was not specified) on the legs, which caused them to swell up. There was also one case of the skin
infection scabies that resulted from unhygienic conditions – an infected dog living in the workplace.
Alba, a 47-year-old victim of trafficking, spoke of this particular problem: “There were dogs and cats.
The dogs were sick and I had a rash that I could not stand the stinging, there was something of a dog
disease and I am not used to be with many dogs and this dog had scabies and he jumped on me, they
didn’t take me to the doctor, no, I was cooking and could no longer endure the itchiness.”
65
Zimmerman, C., M. Hossain, K. Yun, B. Roche, L. Morison and C. Watts (2006) Stolen smiles: a summary report on the physical and
psychological health consequences of women and adolescents trafficked in Europe. London. London School of Hygiene & Tropical
Medicine; Siân Oram et al., “Prevalence and Risk of Violence and the Physical, Mental, and Sexual Health Problems Associated
with Human Trafficking: Systematic Review”, PLoS Medicine 9, no. 5 (2012), e1001224, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.
pmed.1001224.
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