U.S. Contractors Violate Human Trafficking Laws in Iraq

U.S. Contractors Violate Human Trafficking Laws in Iraq: "U.S. Contractors Violate Human Trafficking Laws in Iraq
Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:44:50 -0700Summary:
As usual, corporate interests in Iraq are exploiting the labor of the world’s poorest, most exploited workers. International human trafficking laws are being violated. Will these corporations be held accountable for their crimes? If past incidents provide any insights, it is highly unlikely.
[Posted By ShiftShapers]
By Cam Simpson
Republished from The Baltimore Sun via Common Dreams
Abuses Found in Hiring at Iraq Bases; Violations of laws on human-trafficking prompt U.S. military's order for change.
WASHINGTON – The top U.S. commander in Iraq has ordered sweeping changes for privatized military support operations after confirming violations of laws against human-trafficking and other abuses by contractors involving possibly thousands of foreign workers on American bases, according to records obtained by the Chicago Tribune.
Gen. George W. Casey Jr. ordered that contractors be required by May 1 to return passports that have been illegally confiscated from laborers on U.S. bases after determining that such practices violated U.S. laws against trafficking for forced or coerced labor. Human brokers and subcontractors from South Asia to the Middle East have worked together to import thousands of laborers into Iraq from impoverished countries.
Two memos obtained by the Tribune indicate that Casey’s office concluded that the practice of confiscating passports from such workers was widespread on American bases and in violation of the U.S. anti-trafficking laws.
The memos, including an order dated April 4 and titled “Subject: Prevention of Trafficking in Persons in MNF-I,” or Multinational Fo"