Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation in Pakistan: An Investigation

Abstract

The thesis attempts to shed light on the determinants of human trafficking and labor exploitation in Pakistan through empirical estimation and tries to analyze the real experiences of victims of trafficking by using data obtained through structured interviews. The arrangements and mode of travelling are also discussed with the help of responses obtained from the questionnaires. In addition, it explains the extent of exploitation that is strongly associated with illegal migration experiences of the interviewed individuals. The thesis concludes that majority of the Pakistanis are trafficked within Pakistan and not across the borders. The results obtained through rigorous regression analysis conclude that human trafficking is an irrational economic behavior which is followed by several inhumane reasons to migrate, the most significant of which are violence, family disturbance, gender inequality and forced migration. The study also explains the association between illegal migration and labor exploitation by analyzing the working and living conditions of the researched individuals at the destination countries. Various forms of exploitations have been reported by the victims including violence, threats of violence, threats of denunciation to authorities, limited personal freedom and no freedom to move, withholding of wages or paying no wages at all, sexual abuse, increased working hours, no off time during work, unhygienic work and abusive behavior of the employer. The study finally discusses policy reviews for stopping the issue from its core.