Migrant Workers Association Warns Basotho of Rising Holiday Human-Trafficking Risks

The Migrant Workers Association of Lesotho has urged Basotho to remain vigilant during the end-of-year holiday period and the start of the new year, warning that cases of human trafficking tend to rise sharply during this time due to increased job-seeking.
Speaking to Mohale FM, the Association’s Director, Mr. Lerato Nkhets’e, appealed to the public to stay in contact with the organization whenever they encounter job opportunities, especially those outside the country, so that the Association can verify the legitimacy of such offers.
Mr. Nkhets’e said one of the most worrying trends they have observed is that many people are being hired by individuals whose identities are unknown. He urged Basotho to inform their families about their workplaces to ensure that, should any problems arise, their loved ones know their whereabouts.
He added that numerous cases have been reported in which people are enticed with job offers in foreign countries, only to end up enslaved in various forms, citing as an example of the case of 17 South Africans who are currently trapped in Ukraine after being misled with false promises of military employment through deceptive recruitment methods.