Victims of Labour Trafficking in Taiwan

Australian Columban Priest Provides a Home

An article in the September issue of The Far East, published by the Columban Mission Society, describes the work being done by an Australian Missionary priest in Taiwan. He provides a home for men who have come to Taiwan as legal migrant workers but have then become victims of labour trafficking by their different employers. The article reports “They were locked up in their places of work and were threatened if they left.  They were forced to work long hours for little or no pay and little rest. ”

“The rescued victims of labour trafficking arrive at the shelter as broken men. They are traumatized and psychologically damaged. While awaiting the outcome of their court cases, the men receive counselling and also work to pay off their debts and send money home to their families.  Fr Peter does everything possible to give the shelter a homely feel. Communication in the shelter is in Chinese. From 8:30 am to 5:30 pm he works in the Diocesan Migrant Centre which organizes the court cases against the traffickers. He returns home to the shelter for supper at 6:00 pm. He likes to get the men talking about their families back home and jokes a lot with them.”

View the complete article here.