Opposing Human Trafficking

Trafficking issues remain high on the agenda at Mercy Investment Services.

Our partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) continues as we ask more and more trucking companies to train their drivers on the issue. With more than 300,000 truck drivers in the U.S. now trained, TAT has documented more than 1,600 calls to the hotline, with more than 500 of those involving likely human trafficking cases identified. In addition, Mercy Investments continues to work with the hotel chains and airlines. In light of several mergers in these sectors, we are pushing for trafficking work to remain a priority for the companies.

Much of the recent work has focused on labor trafficking. The No Fees program hosted by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility has underpinned this work. Corporations involved with supply chains including those mentioned above are asked to look at ethical recruitment practices and redo either their human rights policy or vendor code of conduct. Companies are asked to reflect that: no fees are charged to an employee to get the job; any documents or contracts are in their native language; and employers will not retain passports. In January, businesses, NGOs and investors participated in a roundtable to hear the latest approaches to the issue. This included a discussion around the challenges faced by ethical recruiters such as the FAIR hiring initiative.

- Pat Zerega, Senior Director of Shareholder Advocacy