A couple of days ago, I saw this news article on the BBC News website "Up to 13,000 slaves working in the
UK". That really hit me, knowing the difficulties that people leave
behind when coming to a country like the UK, in the search for a better life.
Initially, I thought that it can't be right. First of all, people in the UK
would not do that “these” days. But the truth is that many people in
Britain are not British. They have come with their own ideologies and views on
this kind of things. Now I am not saying that the biggest contributor of modern
day slavery in the UK are people from outside the UK. However, based on my
limited experience, I think that a considerable amount is contributed exactly
by people that are from outside the UK.
Only recently I heard of a Romanian national who was told that there is a job for him here in the UK awaiting. He came, was met by the people he organised his trip through. They took him to a house and said that the job is not quite ready yet, but that meanwhile to earn for his bread he could deliver empty charity bugs. 1000 bugs would be £30, which in many cases would not be paid anyway. That is awful! However, these people have to work because they have no money to return home and no money to eat. People get tricked into these things.
The other big avenue is prostitution. It is said that in Moldova about 80% of girls from orphanages end up in prostitution, because the system just spits them out at the age of 18 or even younger. These girls then have no-one and nowhere to go but into prostitution. They are then transported illegally to countries like the UK. We can say "Oh, how terrible!" but the truth is, there is demand. Take away the demand and the problem is more or less sorted overnight.
It is a shame that these things are still happening. I think we should stop blaming the police and keep vigilant about these things. Try and help people that are in these situations.
If you find yourself in a situation like that and you are afraid to ask for help because of all the threats these people have made to you. You cannot continue in that way. There are people and a place of safety if only you ask. Ask for help!
Also, if you are thinking to travel to the UK for work, make sure you have a plan B in case you end up in a case of slavery. Make sure you have someone in the UK that you can ring for help. If you are from the EU you can go to a Job Centre in your town and ask for help there. Alternatively, leave a comment here.
Only recently I heard of a Romanian national who was told that there is a job for him here in the UK awaiting. He came, was met by the people he organised his trip through. They took him to a house and said that the job is not quite ready yet, but that meanwhile to earn for his bread he could deliver empty charity bugs. 1000 bugs would be £30, which in many cases would not be paid anyway. That is awful! However, these people have to work because they have no money to return home and no money to eat. People get tricked into these things.
The other big avenue is prostitution. It is said that in Moldova about 80% of girls from orphanages end up in prostitution, because the system just spits them out at the age of 18 or even younger. These girls then have no-one and nowhere to go but into prostitution. They are then transported illegally to countries like the UK. We can say "Oh, how terrible!" but the truth is, there is demand. Take away the demand and the problem is more or less sorted overnight.
It is a shame that these things are still happening. I think we should stop blaming the police and keep vigilant about these things. Try and help people that are in these situations.
If you find yourself in a situation like that and you are afraid to ask for help because of all the threats these people have made to you. You cannot continue in that way. There are people and a place of safety if only you ask. Ask for help!
Also, if you are thinking to travel to the UK for work, make sure you have a plan B in case you end up in a case of slavery. Make sure you have someone in the UK that you can ring for help. If you are from the EU you can go to a Job Centre in your town and ask for help there. Alternatively, leave a comment here.
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