Global Ground Media

The long-awaited proposed EU ban on products made with forced labour published on 14 September, is shaking up the fisheries sector in Southeast Asia notorious for labour issues. Issues in marine and aquaculture fisheries have troubled the region for years. Despite reports of forced labour and abuse on fishing boats, the problem continues to this day harming the reputation of the entire sector.

In April 2021, ECPAT published a report of 20 boys and gender-diverse youth, aged 15 to 24, who had been pushed to work in the sex industry. 18 out of 20 of the youth said that if they had the choice, they would leave sex work. Leaving the sex industry can be a difficult and lengthy process.