7 images Created 12 Jun 2024
South Americans exploited in Poland
Each year, countless Latin Americans travel to Poland pursuing their dreams of a better life, fleeing unemployment, poverty and violence. However, their pursuit of hope often leads to a harsh reality of exploitation, coercion, and human trafficking. This ongoing documentary photographic project reveals the grim reality through the stories of the victims.
The collected stories describe the malpractice and illegal activities surrounding the job black market in Poland has revealed a troubling pattern. South Americans, particularly Colombians and Mexicans, are being drawn to the country by mid-sized companies exploiting loopholes in the three-month tourist visa system. Desperate to support their families back home, women and men are lured with promises of employment, only to find themselves trapped in precarious and often illegal working conditions. In Wroclaw, I spoke with several Colombians who bravely recounted their experiences, some of which meet the criteria for human trafficking.
The collected stories describe the malpractice and illegal activities surrounding the job black market in Poland has revealed a troubling pattern. South Americans, particularly Colombians and Mexicans, are being drawn to the country by mid-sized companies exploiting loopholes in the three-month tourist visa system. Desperate to support their families back home, women and men are lured with promises of employment, only to find themselves trapped in precarious and often illegal working conditions. In Wroclaw, I spoke with several Colombians who bravely recounted their experiences, some of which meet the criteria for human trafficking.
