Malawi to Mozambique: Human Trafficking and Forced Labour
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over 85% of disabled households live in extreme poverty. Malawi is battling an economic crisis that has led to fuel shortages and inflated food prices. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and vulnerable to external shocks, particularly climatic shocks.
In the past 18 months, households in Phalombe have faced an ongoing humanitarian crisis due to Tropical Storm Ana (January 2022), Cyclone Gome (March 2022) and Cyclone Freddy (2023), which have caused severe food shortages, a cholera epidemic and the displacement of households. Many of the families have reported a 60% decline in their crop production and are surviving on mangos growing from the trees, with many still destitute from Cyclone Freddy (2023).
Large numbers of families and children with disabilities are at risk of being trafficked in Phalombe, Malawi, to tobacco farms in Mozambique. Families are often promised access to work, food and a tent to reside in with their families, but in reality, tobacco workers and their families remain impoverished and enslaved through tobacco company practices such as collusion over leaf prices and unfair contract arrangements with tobacco companies. Children as young as five years old pick tobacco and are denied an education and basic food requirements.
In a recent report by the United Nations, tobacco farms are usually located in remote areas, limiting access to assistance or advice against labour rights abuses and protections against people trafficking. Moreover, children with disabilities do not have access to school, healthcare or support.
In a survey by EmbraceAbility conducted by volunteers and other stakeholders, we have come to understand that there are over 135 households at risk of migrating to illegal tobacco farms in Mozambique. Resources are limited in the area. Larger international institutions and NGOs have closed key programmes since the pandemic. Village Chiefs and smaller NGOs such as EmbraceAbility and River of Life need help to provide services in the area and meet families' basic needs, such as food, safe drinking water and safe homes.
EmbraceAbility is working with the Village Chiefs and a local NGO, River of Life, to run awareness campaigns to combat families migrating to tobacco farms in Mozambique. Over the next few weeks, we will be running the following activities:
Awareness Campaign: we are running awareness campaigns with the youth organisation River of Life and Village Chiefs to inform people of the risks of migrating to Mozambique.
Social Cash Transfer: EmbraceAbility will provide a monthly cash transfer for disabled households to ensure families can access food and safe drinking water.
Improving employment: we will work with other stakeholders on employment opportunities by providing vocational training in tailoring and agricultural opportunities by providing goats, cows and chickens to families.
Please donate to our fundraising campaign here.
