Human Trafficking in South Carolina

Human Trafficking in South Carolina

The growing human trafficking crisis has in the past decade a critical issue facing South Carolina. The rising cases of human trafficking particularly labor trafficking have culminated in the creation of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force aimed at continually addressing the issue by limiting new cases while actively working to address any reported cases across the state (SCHTT 1). However, despite the extensive measures adopted by the workforce, sex and labor trafficking continue to be critical issues across the state. In being a largely agricultural state, large-scale farmers across the state are in constant need of laborers to aid with the farms and plantations (Nsowu 102). However, the rise in demand and the shortage of local laborers have contributed to the uptake of labor trafficking across the state.

More farmers and plantations are engaging in labor trafficking of Latina laborers to reduce operational costs by having lower labor costs and higher profits. The lack of adequate policies in place has contributed to the continuity of labor trafficking across the state. A lack of stringent labor legislation in place contributes to potential loopholes that facilitate the continuity of labor trafficking across states (Calhoun 1). Also, the lack of extensive policies on the issue delimits the importance of regular and unannounced inspections by law enforcement across the farms that would have contributed to curtailing the incidence of human trafficking.

A lack of extensive awareness within the community has been detrimental in curtailing the incidence of labor trafficking as the community is unaware of the gravity of the issue and hence unable to identify and report suspicious activities that may contribute to human trafficking. In light of the presented challenges and the continuity of the issue, it is imperative for lawmakers and law enforcement alongside the community to work together in developing and reinforcing policies and awareness programs aimed at curbing the incidence of labor trafficking as the prevalent form of human trafficking experienced in South Carolina.

There are multiple problems with continuing the lack of adequate policies in place in addressing human trafficking. First, a lack of adequate policies in place tailored towards addressing labor trafficking as a critical issue experienced across the state will create loopholes in the system and facilitate the continuity of the issues as currently experienced (Nsonwu 103: Tiller and Reynolds 545). In lacking extensive policies aimed at addressing the supply of labor, the state will fail in creating an environment where employers are aware of the strict labor requirements and the penalties for failure to adhere.

In developing extensive labor policies, the purpose is to inform employers and in this case farmers of the stipulations governing the management of labor and the penalties attached to failure to adhere to the policy stipulations (Nsonwu 103: Tiller and Reynolds 545). However, a lack of such policies in place contributes to the continuity of labor trafficking across farms and agricultural land across the state. Secondly, a lack of adequate policies in place to address labor trafficking delimits the potential role and capacity of law enforcement officers in curbing such cases across the state (Armstrong et al. 282).

A lack of clearly defined policies in labor trafficking along with the measures to be adopted to deter incidence delimit the applicability of law enforcement officers to conduct regular inspections of premises and industries that are labor intensive to limit the incidence of labor trafficking. However, in focusing on policy development, law enforcement officers may have a better awareness of the nature and extent of the issue along with possible measures that may be adopted to curb the incidence through regular inspections and reinforcement of the stringent policies in place.

Third, a lack of adequate policies in place on the issue fails the community the society to the dire state of the problem and the need for active participation from different stakeholders in addressing the issue (Ashworth 1). In having stringent policies in place on human trafficking will community the adverse nature of the issue and the need for multiple stakeholders from community members to businesses and non-profit organizations across the state to work together to limit the incidence and continuity of the problem (Calhoun 1). Addressing labor trafficking as a core issue facing the state is reliant on effective policy development and reinforcement that creates a sense of urgency in the awareness of the issue and stipulates measures that may be adopted to address the issue at the state level (Macy et al. 540).

The South Carolina Taskforce on Human Trafficking (1) reported a 450% increase in labor trafficking in the agricultural industry across the state. The high level of demand for labor in Greenville has contributed to the growth of the local area as the hub for labor trafficking with the Latina population accounting for 44% of the trafficked population (SCTHT 1). In this case, the continuity of the challenge may be attributed to a lack of effective policies in place aimed at not only curbing labor trafficking in the state but actively engaging in the continuous inspection of the farms and industries that have a high demand for labor. However, it is imperative to note that an awareness of the problem by the state has contributed to the adoption of additional measures that aim at providing services to victims.

The approach, in this case, has been instrumental as it highlights awareness of the issue and the need to not only focus on curbing the incidence but also catering to the victims of labor trafficking. However, despite the benefits experienced through the introduction of the program in catering to victims, a lack of adequate resources and limited involvement of organizations and programs tailored towards caring for the victims have put a strain on the programs (Lehe 1). The state has identified a lack of adequate programs to provide care services for the child, adolescent, and adult victim populations. Currently, there is only one organization catering to the needs of the population, and it predominantly caters to the need of male and female victims of sex trafficking. In this case, a critical gap involving the availability of programs to cater to the needs of victims is highlighted and should be explored in understanding labor trafficking in South Carolina and possible measures that may be adopted to address the crisis by aiding victims.

Community involvement has been identified as a critical factor that aids in addressing a challenge facing the community through active involvement and participation of the community (Wretman et al. 5). The approach has predominantly been adopted in focusing on the social aspect of an issue where the focus is not only on addressing but also ensuring that the community is awareness of the nature of the problem and the importance of active participation in addressing the problem (Foot et al. 219). Community engagement creates an environment where collective effort is emphasized by engaging multiple stakeholders in the community in identifying the problem, the contributing factors, and measures that may be adopted by all stakeholders in curtailing the incidence of the problem (Macy et al. 553).

Armstrong and colleagues (282) present that adopting the approach focuses on creating an environment where the community not only has an awareness of the issue presented but is also aware of the responsibility assigned to foster accountability at the community level in addressing the issue. Ashworth (1) presents that in some instances, the community may be unaware of the nature of the problem and if aware of the problem, unaware of the extent and gravity of the issue. A lack of knowledge of the nature of the problem may result in lack of active programs in the community communicating of the issue along with a lack of programs aimed towards catering to the victims of human trafficking across the state. In this case, integrating community awareness as a possible approach aids in creating a deep sense of focus in the community on the issue and the need for possible solutions to address the issue.

Regardless of the course of action, South Carolina is experiencing a rise in human and labor trafficking. The rising numbers in reported cases of human trafficking across the state along with the unreported cases are indicative of a critical human rights problem facing the state. There is clear evidence of the contributing factors to the high level of labor trafficking, which is primarily attributed to the state being primarily agricultural and a demand for cheap labor. Additionally, the lack of stringent policies in place to address labor trafficking through active reinforcement and assessment of the farms and industries has contributed to the continuity of the issue in the community. Until legislators can find an appropriate policy that addresses labor and human trafficking across the state that focuses on reducing the rising cases and promoting the welfare of victims, communities across the state will continue reporting more cases of labor trafficking within the Latina community the state.

 

Works Cited

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