Sixteen Mozambican nationals trafficked to Laos and forced to work in slave-like conditions have been rescued and returned to their home country. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) helped the two women and 14 men, who were recruited with false promises of high salaries. Instead, they were forced into difficult jobs in remote areas like coal mines or cutting bamboo, and their passports were confiscated.
The IOM said that many of the rescued individuals never received any wages, while others were only paid a fraction of what was promised. Some of the individuals had been tragically stranded in Laos since mid-2024, while others had been there since early 2025.
The Mozambique government is now working with the IOM and Laos authorities to trace seven other Mozambicans in similar conditions. While the country is rich in natural resources, most of its people are poor and underemployed, leading many to seek work outside the country.