What We Eat III

Abstract

Abstract The chapter highlights human trafficking and other forms of labor exploitation in the seafood and agricultural sectors. Examining the fishing industry in Asia, it shows that in Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand, retailers, responding as ever to consumer demand, put enormous pressure on seafood suppliers to provide their products at the lowest possible price. As in Europe and North America, nationals will not work for the wages offered, and firms turn to migrants. But the wages and conditions are so appalling that even migrant workers, who generally accept lower wages, will not voluntarily take jobs in the sector. The result is extensive human trafficking. Examining Cesar Chavez and the Delano grape strike, the chapter shows that the agricultural industry never had much appeal to US-born workers, that the rise in wages was smaller and covered fewer workers, and that retrenchment was faster and more complete. The result was almost complete reliance on migrant workers.