Labor Exploitation in North Carolina

*Juan, a sixteen year old from Columbia, is a migrant farm worker in North Carolina. He came to the U.S. to support his family two years ago after his traffickers promised a wonderful life in this land of opportunity. Unlike what his traffickers promised, however, Juan's life in the States has been nothing but challenging. Everyday, Juan gets up 4 o'clock in the morning, heads to the farm, and works for 14 hours. Under the hot scorching North Carolinian sunlight, Juan gets neither a bathroom break nor cold water to quench the thirst. He would be lucky if he gets to come home at the end of the day without getting heat stroke.

But, Juan's story is common among the farm workers in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking, North Carolina has seen 260 percent increase in the number of human trafficking victims for the past three years, and 38 percent of the victims were the ones exploited with labor like Juan.

Many migrants also often are subject to very poor living and working conditions, According to one research:

• Of the growers provided housing submitted to water testing, 44 per cent had contaminated water (University of North Carolina. Reported by Smith-Nonini.)

• One wash tub per 30 workers meets the state’s requirements.

• In 1986, of farm workers tested, 86 per cent had intestinal parasites - a reflection of poor sanitation and contaminated water (University of North Carolina. Reported by Smith-Nonini.)

• Despite a legal requirement, a survey found that only 4 per cent of farm workers had access to drinking water, toilets and hand washing facilities in the fields. (Human Rights Watch)

• There are four federally funded clinics that serve farm workers where patients pay on a sliding scale according to income. However, more than 60 per cent of the migrant farm worker population live in counties outside the service area of a migrant health center. (NC Farmworker Health Alliance, March 1996)

• The state provides limited funds for migrant health services. These funds provide reimbursements for doctors, dentists, clinics and pharmacies for care to farm workers and their dependents who have been employed in the state within the past 24 months. (NC Farmworker Health Alliance, March 1996)

But, the situation of migrant workers on tobacco farms in North Carolina are worse than others. They often experience green tobacco sickness due to the excessive absorption of nicotine through the skin. The symptoms of green tobacco sickness include, "dizziness, vomiting, weakness, coughing, nosebleeds, and headaches." Yet, many of them have no ways to speak up for themselves because the traffickers or their employers threaten them with deportation.

Thankfully, an organization like Farm Labor Organization Committee has stood next to a farmworker like Juan to protect his rights. But, further work needs to be done. What can you do for a worker like Juan?

For more information, visit supportfloc.org

*Juan is a fictitious name.