UNITED NATIONS, July 16: In an effort to prevent 100,000 girls and women across South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka) from falling victims to labour trafficking in the Middle East, the United Nations Labour agency and United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) have launched a new programme aims at ending such practices.

The purpose of the project is to provide South Asian women going to the Middle East in search for jobs with skills, pre-departure training and other support to help them avoid being trafficked and to secure a legal contract and decent wages. It will also combat child labour by helping thousands of girls under 16 years old to stay in school so they are not compelled to migrate for work.

“Labour mobility is a reality of our globalised economy but with it comes an increased risk of labour trafficking, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable,” director-general of the International Labour Organisation Guy Ryder said on Monday.

“We estimate over $12 billion worth of income a year is withheld from those in forced labour in Asia and the Middle East. This is money that should be helping lift families out of poverty.”

Every year, millions of people from poor communities migrate to find employment so they can send money home to support their families. They get jobs such as live-in domestic workers cooking, cleaning and looking after families or in garment factories. Many end up being deceived and trafficked into jobs with extremely low wages or no pay at all.

According to ILO, around 21 million people are trafficked and are in forced labour worldwide. The majority are from Asia with women and girls being the most vulnerable to the practice. Their movement is restricted, their living and working conditions are very poor, and they often suffer physical and sexual abuse.

Through the “Work in Freedom” project, the UK government is investing £9.75 million ($14.7 million) over five years to help tackle known labour trafficking routes between South Asia, such as Bangladesh and Nepal, to the Middle East, including Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.

“This ground-breaking partnership with the UK Government is a vital step in making migration for work a safe and legitimate means of improving livelihoods,” said Mr Ryder.

The project will also focus on helping migrant women avoid paying extortionate, illegal recruitment fees by cracking down on unscrupulous recruitment practices and encouraging recruitment agencies to sign up to ethical principles and practices.