Labor trafficking is one of the most common forms of human trafficking, and it usually starts with the promise of a better income. Victims get lured in by the possibilities, only to find disappointment on the other side. Such was the case for Elizabeth, a young woman from Sri Lanka who lost her job during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elizabeth was one of the primary breadwinners for her family, and she needed to make more money than the local jobs had to offer. She started looking for better opportunities internationally and found another Sri Lankan who was working in Lesotho. He promised to find her a job and arranged for her to travel to Lesotho. Elizabeth received a contract outlining her salary and accommodations, and she set off for her new life.
When she arrived in Lesotho, she was met with a much different reality. She was forced into hard, unpaid labor in miserable conditions. Her boss beat her, confiscated her personal documents, and falsely reported Elizabeth to the police for theft.
The police arrived to arrest Elizabeth, but they quickly realized she was a victim of labor trafficking. They rescued her from the workplace and brought her to the BDS shelter for safety.
Elizabeth arrived at the shelter bruised, scarred, and scared to death. She told our volunteers that she felt like her power had been taken from her. BDS provided her with shelter and basic needs, and we connected her with a psychologist to help her recover from her trauma.
We are committed to helping Elizabeth find stable work. We have helped her write a resume to send to potential employers, and we’ve enrolled her in skill development courses at the shelter. Elizabeth has settled in well and is taking steps toward a brighter future.
Beautiful Dream Society loves empowering women to overcome their adversities. We need your help to continue our mission. If you’d like to help us prevent human trafficking and combat the effects of labor trafficking, please donate to BDS.
