Collective Work to Subvert Trafficking

By Kirthi Jayakumar

A powerful digital network that connected women through WhatsApp led to the rescue of over 50 Malawian women who were trafficked to Oman to work in slave-like conditions: A phenomenal testament to how collective work buttressed by feminist engagements via technology can subvert large networks of power and systemic violence.  

Trafficked into Slavery

Estimates suggest that there are around 2 million women working as domestic workers in the Arab states, and almost all of them were found to be victims of human trafficking. As many as a third of them reported that they were sexually abused, whereas half reported facing some form of physical violence (US Department of State, 2023).  

Typically, employers source domestic workers through agents, who are paid hefty sums. Employers often demand that the sum of money be recovered as a condition for the release of the domestic worker. As part of the kafala labour system, laws prevent a domestic worker from leaving, changing jobs, or advocating for their rights no matter the conditions under which they are forced to work (Phiri and Ford, 2024). Workers are thus bonded to their employers for the duration of their contract. In principle, however, the employer-domestic worker relationship is considered contractual, with room for courts to be approached for dispute resolution. In principle, however, a passport cannot be taken without the consent of the individual, and a domestic worker cannot be subject to forced labour. However, practical realities prove that these dynamics are sites where power is enacted on a trafficked worker, whose agency and mobility are severely constricted by the powerful employer.  

For several years, women in Malawi have been trafficked into Oman. Several of these women were approached by agents with the promise of employment that would let them earn more money in a Middle Eastern country, only to arrive and find out that they were cheated (Phiri and Ford, 2024). They were then trapped into slave-like working conditions, where they worked without respite at very low wages. Many of the women were sexually assaulted and abused, and were subject to sexual slavery in the hands of their employers – under the threat of being killed if they dared to resist or speak out. Their passports were confiscated and they were prevented from leaving.  

Collective work across borders

One of the women, after several weeks of sexual slavery and violence, wrote out a post on Facebook, asking for help. Seeing this message, Pililani Mombe Nyoni, a Malawian social media activist, got in touch with the woman. After exchanging numbers, the woman took down the post from Facebook to preserve her safety (Phiri and Ford, 2024). The conversation then shifted to WhatsApp.  

As Pililani’s number made the rounds across Oman, more and more women’s stories came to light. Seeing this trend, she created a WhatsApp group, and eventually, as many as 50 women joined it. Over time, these women began sharing voice notes and videos that detailed the horrific conditions they endured. Some of these women had to shut themselves in toilets to send out these messages (Phiri and Ford, 2024).  

Recognizing the dire situation, Pililani began to connect with groups working to address human trafficking  in Malawi, and helped the woman she connected with, to get out of Oman and return to Malawi. This case paved the way for more work in Malawi, to push the government to intervene and stop the trafficking of women. The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) in Malawi then launched a campaign calling on the government to bring the women home. Another group, Do Bold, in Greece, which negotiates with the employers of victims of trafficking and forced labour for their release, also supported the Malawian government – together, they rescued 54 women – in most cases, after paying the employer money. One woman, sadly, died – but there was no investigation of the cause of her death in Oman. The Labour Ministry in Oman indicated that it did not receive any complaints from the domestic workers (Phiri and Ford, 2024).  

While the WhatsApp group has now shifted to focus on supporting the women who are back home, the government of Malawi is currently working to set up rules to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration in ways that safeguards the migrants, families, and the country’s interests. However, precious little is being done to recognize the root cause for such migration: Rampant poverty and unemployment. Women who are able to access employment and resources in their country may not even need to migrate to find work.

The work of the migrant women in advocating for themselves with the support of civil society actors like Pililani, Do Bold, and CDEDI is a powerful example of collective work to subvert systemic and structural factors that enable violence and necropolitics.

References:

Phiri, F. and Ford, T. (2024) How a Malawi WhatsApp group helped save women trafficked to Oman https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68565425

US Department of State (2023). 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/