Joy Smith Foundation, Manitoba Trucking Unveil Labour Trafficking Awareness Campaign

Labour trafficking is a significant and growing issue in Manitoba's trucking industry, with many foreign workers subjected to extreme work conditions, unpaid wages, and confiscation of documents, effectively amounting to modern-day slavery. The Joy Smith Foundation, in partnership with the Manitoba Trucking Association and Winnipeg Crime Stoppers, has launched a public awareness campaign during National Trucking Week to educate drivers, companies, and the public on recognizing and reporting labour trafficking safely and anonymously. This campaign, featuring billboards, posters, digital ads, and a dedicated website, aims to protect vulnerable workers and improve road safety by addressing the use of untrained drivers coerced through deceptive and exploitative practices. Industry leaders warn that labour trafficking has led to safety risks on the roads, including poorly trained drivers and improperly secured loads, which can cause serious accidents. The initiative underscores the human cost of trafficking and the broader impact on trucking safety and compensation standards, urging Manitobans to report suspicious activity to help eradicate this crime. The campaign's core message is: "Know the signs. Report the crime," emphasizing community involvement in combating labour trafficking in the trucking sector.