January’s focus on labor trafficking won’t be complete without looking at what is being done about it.

Relentless is providing comprehensive health care to people (Burmese, Cambodians, Lao, Thai, etc.) who have been trafficked in the Thai fishing and construction industry. Relentless is also working with Labor Rights Promotion Network    (LPN) and MAST to train the staff of LPN and others working with exploited migrant workers about trauma, trauma-informed care, and working with them to develop a more robust health component to their interventions.

For the FIRST time, on 30-31 January 2017, Thai Civil Society’s Coalition for Sustainable and Ethical Seafood and representatives from international businesses met together to discuss how to solve the problem of unethical and unsustainable fishing practices.

We are also beginning to develop “Fisherman Centers” in ports around the country to help spread awareness to migrants about their rights, identify exploited workers, and offer other health and social services.

In the last month I have had several friends call their local supermarket to inquire about whether the fish they sell is tainted by slavery – we need all of you to do that! Let them know that this matters to you!

Who are the laborers – the domestic help, construction workers, agriculture workers, spas and nail salons, etc. in your area? Are they being treated fairly? Are they migrant laborers? What are you doing to ensure that the things you like to buy are free of slavery and environmentally sustainable?

I have no idea how good or valuable this tool is, but Dun & Bradstreet are offering a free human trafficking risk scan for your company. If you use it, please send some feedback.

It will take all of use to use our own sphere of influence no matter how small or large to ensure that nobody has to endure what these guys have endured!