US flags trafficking risks

Oct 02, 2025 News

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…tells Guyana to strictly vet Chinese, Cuban workers

Kaieteur News – The United States Government has called on Guyana to increase prosecutions and convictions in sex and labour trafficking cases including those that involve children as victims and to also proactively screen Chinese national and Cuban regime-affiliated workers before hiring them.

These and other recommendations are contained in the Department of State Human Trafficking report released on Tuesday. The US Government has alco called on Guyana to vet labour agreements with the Chinese government, and regularly conduct inspections of worksites employing Chinese nationals; prevent forced labour among Cuban workers in Guyana, hire any Cuban workers directly and utilise hiring practices that are in line with domestic and international law, and provide adequate protection to Cuban victims of human trafficking.

On February 25, 2025, the United States Department of State, announced that there will be an expansion of the visa restriction policy for persons exploiting Cuban labour. Secretary Marco Rubio said, “Today, we announce the expansion of an existing Cuba-related visa restriction policy that targets labour linked to the Cuban labour export programme. This expanded policy applies to current or former Cuban government officials and other individuals, including foreign government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labour export program, particularly Cuba’s overseas medical missions. This policy also applies to the immediate family of such persons. The Department has already taken steps to impose visa restrictions on several individuals, including Venezuelans, under this expanded policy.”

Further, the Secretary of State said that Cuba profits from the “forced labour of its workers, and the regime’s abusive and coercive labour practices are well documented.” “Cuba’s labour export programs, which include the medical missions, enrich the Cuban regime, and in the case of Cuba’s overseas medical missions, deprive ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need in their home country. The United States is committed to countering forced labour practices around the globe. To do so, we must promote accountability not just for Cuban officials responsible for these policies, but also those complicit in the exploitation and forced labour of Cuban workers.”

Among other things the State Department report states that the Government of Guyana fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and continues to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period.  These efforts included convicting one sex trafficker and ordering her to pay restitution, increasing prosecutions, and collaborating with foreign governments to investigate trafficking cases.

The government identified more trafficking victims, significantly increased funding for protection and prevention efforts, and conducted extensive awareness campaigns and training, the report states. “Although the government meets the minimum standards, it did not vet labour agreements with the Chinese government and had not yet commenced vetting labour agreements with the Cuban regime for trafficking vulnerabilities. It also did not adequately screen Chinese national and Cuban regime-affiliated workers for trafficking indicators nor conduct sufficient inspections of these nationals’ worksites. The government did not: adequately oversee recruitment agencies, eliminate worker-paid recruitment and placement fees, nor adequately screen for trafficking victims in the interior of the country. In addition, the government did not adequately enforce the payment of restitutions to victims,” the report noted. As such Guyana remained on Tier 1 of the human trafficking listing,” the report noted.

Recommendations

Meanwhile, the US Government made a slew of recommendations for this country to adopt. Among them are: increase prosecutions and convictions in sex and labour trafficking cases, including for cases involving child victims; proactively screen Chinese national and Cuban regime-affiliated workers, vet labour agreements with the Chinese government, and regularly conduct inspections of worksites employing Chinese nationals; prevent forced labour among Cuban workers in Guyana, hire any Cuban workers directly and utilise hiring practices that are in line with domestic and international law, and provide adequate protection to Cuban victims of human trafficking; increase labour inspections at high-risk worksites in the mining and logging districts; take steps to eliminate recruitment or placement fees charged to workers by labor recruiters and ensure any such fees are paid by employers; complete a review of existing legislation on labour recruitment and increase the number of labor inspectors; enforce judgments of restitution; proactively screen other vulnerable populations, including Haitian migrants, for trafficking indicators; refer them to services; and ensure potential victims are not deported without screening; hold convicted traffickers, including complicit officials, accountable by seeking adequate penalties, which should involve significant prison terms; ensure security for victims, especially those residing in government shelters, and their relatives; reduce reliance on victims to serve as witnesses in prosecutions and include relevant NGOs in monthly Task Force meetings and proactively seek input from NGOs for initiatives and measures aimed at preventing trafficking.

Dedication

In a statement reacting to the report, Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond described the Tier 1 ranking as evidence of the Government’s unwavering dedication and effective action in fighting human trafficking. She noted that her ministry and by extension the Government of Guyana, remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicate human trafficking within our borders and across the wider region. This commitment, she added, is amplified by the tireless efforts of members of the Ministerial Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons, non-governmental organisations, civil society stakeholders, and other partners.

“Our comprehensive approach includes safeguarding vulnerable populations, increasing training and awareness, intensifying spot inspections and anti-trafficking operations, and through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, providing robust support and protection to victims and survivors, pursuing relentless prosecution of offenders, and fostering strong partnerships both locally and internationally,” Minister Walrond said.

This Tier 1 placement marks the ninth consecutive year that Guyana has demonstrated serious and sustained efforts to combat this insidious crime. The Report also highlights several notable advancements in Guyana’s anti-trafficking framework, including an increased prosecution rate, the successful conviction of a sex trafficker with an ordered restitution payment, and enhanced collaboration with foreign governments to investigate trafficking cases effectively and increasing funding for the protection and prevention efforts.

The Report further outlines twelve critical recommendations for Guyana to continue strengthening its anti-trafficking efforts. These include increasing prosecutions and convictions, especially in cases involving child victims; eliminating recruitment fees charged to workers; expanding labour and spot inspections in sectors vulnerable to trafficking such as mining and logging; enforcing restitution orders promptly; proactively screening vulnerable populations, including migrants, for signs of trafficking; and ensuring that convicted traffickers and any complicit officials face adequate penalties. Minister Walrond stressed that the Government is firmly committed to addressing these recommendations with urgency, deploying advanced policies, rigorous monitoring, and strengthened partnerships to disrupt trafficking networks and safeguard victims.

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• Chinese, Cuban workers, Marco Rubio, trafficking risks, US Secretary

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