Slavery in Los Angeles
Leilani Albano | 7-29-2010 | Comments |
| Print this Page
For domestic worker, Nena Ruiz, the work day never ended.The retired teacher from the Philippines says she was forced to cook and clean 18 hours a day for a Culver City couple.
"I started my job at 5:30 and it lasts until past 10 in the evening," said Ruiz.
Ruiz says she received only $300 for the entire year that she worked for Elizabeth Jackson and her husband James Jackson, the former vice president of Legal Affairs at Sony Pictures. She also says Elizabeth regularly beat her.
With the help of the anti-trafficking group, CAST – the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking – Ruiz was able to escape.
Today, Ruiz speaks publicly about the abuse.
Listen to the story:
"[Modern slaves] should not be afraid to fight for their freedom and earn a living in this country," said Ruiz.
CAST Los Angeles recently reported a 200 percent increase from 2008 to 2010 in human trafficking. While sex trafficking grabs much of the media’s attention, the majority of those enslaved in L.A. are brought into forced labor. CAST L.A.’s Executive Director, Kay Buck, says that the poor economy is the main reason for the spike in numbers.
"We are seeing more and more people being that much more desperate to take the risk and believe that the American Dream is there," said Buck.
In addition to the abuse, Ruiz says she was forced to sleep in the dog’s bed.
"During the day, that’s the bed of the dog," said Ruiz. "But during the night time, I just cover it and sleep there."
Lolita Lledo, Associate Director of the Pilipino Workers Center, says trafficking survivors share common experiences.
"You were kept in a house," said Lledo. "You don’t control your time. You were always threatened. You don’t have your passports."
Following the 1995 discovery of 72 Thai workers in El Monte who were kept in "slave-like conditions," a slew of reforms were passed. That included the Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in 2000, which provided legal protections and basic services. Despite this, forced laborers are still being abused.
Ima Matul from Indonesia was promised $150 a month to work for a West LA family. But in three years, she didn’t earn a penny because her employers constantly deducted money from her pay.
"Like if I break a glass that would be one-dollar deduction from my salary," said Matul. "And one day she said if you keep doing this all the time, when you go home, you’re going to end up not having money."
Matul says she was also severely beaten, including being thrown against the wall.
"I cannot say it was horrible because it was more than horrible," said Matul.
Private homes are not the only places where slavery exists. Kay Buck says that businesses are looking to human trafficking more and more to fill their labor needs.
"So it’s kind of this continuum of labor exploitation that happens and then elevates to a level of slavery or human trafficking," said Buck.
In Los Angeles, forced laborers are increasingly found in the home care and hotel industry.
"Like for example, if I am the hotel owner, I will get you," said Lledo. "Your company will supply me like busboys, or waiters."
Forced labor in the US is also extending its reach to high-skilled work. According to USA Today, 350 Filipino teachers were held in "virtual servitude" in Louisiana last year after a recruiting firm allegedly charged them $15,000 each to obtain their teaching jobs. These charges may be shocking, but Buck says no industry is immune to slave labor.
"People ask me on a regular basis where can I shop where I know I am not endorsing or supporting slave labor," said Buck. "And the reality for those of us who have been working in this movement… can’t say for sure."
Buck encourages lawmakers to support the Transparency in Supply Chains Act. The California bill would require large companies to disclose information about their labor supply chains.
"This bill won’t address everything but it’s a step in the right direction where people, consumers can have more tools to make informed decisions," said Buck.
Tags: cast coalition to abolish slavery and trafficking human rights los angeles slavery