Category Archives: Human Rights
- 19-11-2010
Thai Human Trafficking Victims Reunite With Families As their case against a Beverly Hills labor contracting firm looms, the future of a program to help them acclimate to American life is in doubt. November 19, 2010|By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times Recalling the last time he saw his family, he most remembers the tears shed as he left for what he thought Continue Reading
- 9-9-2010
Thai Workers Describe Being Lured into Slavery in U.S. More than two dozen immigrants, covering their faces and continuing to fear for their safety, speak out about what authorities call the largest labor-trafficking case in U.S. history. September 09, 2010|By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times More than two dozen Thai farmworkers lined up in front of the Wat Thai Buddhist temple in Sun Valley Continue Reading
- 4-9-2010
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Associates of Beverly Hills Firm in Human Trafficking Case In a ‘mind-boggling case,’ the owner and four employees of Global Horizons Manpower Inc. are indicted on charges of engaging in a conspiracy to coerce the labor of hundreds of Thai nationals September 04, 2010|By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times In 2003, a farmworker showed up in the Hollywood offices of a Thai community organization Continue Reading
- 25-11-2006
State Has Yet to Test Slavery Statute No human trafficking cases have been tried since the law went into effect nearly a year ago. It’s too difficult to prove the crime, police say. November 25, 2006|Garrett Therolf | Times Staff Writer When Westminster police raided the apartment, they were convinced they were freeing the eight women inside from modern-day slavery. Police said Continue Reading
- 19-12-2005
Program to Fight Human Trafficking is Underused Lack of awareness and simple fear may be reasons. December 19, 2005|Anna Gorman | Times Staff Writer The single mother, struggling to support two children in Thailand, knew she couldn’t turn down a job offer as a cook in a Thai restaurant in Woodland Hills. But when Thonglim Khamphiranon arrived at her new post, her Continue Reading
- 24-1-2000
Sweatshop Exhibit Revives Painful Memories Human rights: Thai women freed in 1995 El Monte raid view show at Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance that depicts their brutal working quarters. January 24, 2000|EDWARD J. BOYER | TIMES STAFF WRITER It was a scandal as close as a bedroom closet–an outrage hovering there among familiar sportswear, dresses, jeans, hats and shirts. Continue Reading
- 3-4-1998
Servitude a Fact of Life, Thais Say Cultures: Alleged mistreatment of two immigrant women is unfortunate, but not an unusual fate for the ‘lower class,’ many contend. April 03, 1998|ERIC SLATER and CLAIRE VITUCCI and JULIE TAMAKI | TIMES STAFF WRITERS Early on the morning of Jan. 14, as the rest of the Woodland Hills household slept, the two Thai women hurried Continue Reading
- 2-4-1998
Envoy’s Companion Accused of Holding Immigrants in Slavery Courts: Woman is charged with forcing two servants smuggled in from Thailand to work at her home and restaurant for 18 hours every day. Suspect vehemently denies the allegations. April 02, 1998|DAVID ROSENZWEIG and CLAIRE VITUCCI | TIMES STAFF WRITERS The female companion of a ranking Thai diplomat was accused in a federal indictment Wednesday Continue Reading
- 24-10-1997
Sweatshop Workers to Get $2 Million Labor: Five firms settle with 150 Thai and Latino employees of notorious El Monte apparel facility and its sister plant in L.A. October 24, 1997|GEORGE WHITE and PATRICK McDONNELL | TIMES STAFF WRITERS Five major companies, including Mervyn’s and Montgomery Ward, have agreed to pay more than $2 million to 150 workers who labored under Continue Reading
- 13-1-1997
Often, the Workers Pay EASY PREY: EXPLOITING IMMIGRANTS When disputes with employers arise, many have little recourse but to turn to the state labor office. It can take years to settle their claims. January 13, 1997|DON LEE | TIMES STAFF WRITER Immigrant workers by the thousands file through the doors of the state labor commissioner’s office every year, hoping Continue Reading