Day 2: Behind the Celebration – The Human Cost We Don’t Always See

“We’ll keep your passport safe for you.”

Those were the last words Maria* heard before everything changed.

She had been promised the opportunity of a lifetime.

A hospitality recruitment agency was looking for staff to support one of the world’s biggest sporting events. The salary was more money than she had ever imagined earning. Accommodation was included. Meals were provided. She dreamed of sending money home to her mother, paying for her younger brother’s education, and finally escaping the cycle of poverty.

She packed one suitcase and boarded the plane with hope in her heart.

When she arrived, her passport was taken.

Her phone was confiscated “until training was complete.”

The hospitality job she had been promised never existed.

Instead, she was told she owed thousands in recruitment fees, travel costs, accommodation charges, and “processing expenses” she had never agreed to. Every day she worked, the debt seemed to grow rather than shrink.

She couldn’t leave.

She couldn’t call home.

She couldn’t ask for help.

Outside, thousands of football fans filled the streets with songs, flags, and celebration.

Inside, Maria wondered if anyone would notice she was missing.

Would anyone realise she had stopped smiling?

Would anyone question why someone else always answered for her?

Would anyone see beyond the uniform she wore?

Eventually, someone did.

A hotel employee noticed that Maria never carried her own passport. She was always accompanied. She appeared frightened whenever her supervisor approached. Rather than confronting the people controlling her, the employee followed safeguarding procedures and reported their concerns.

That single decision changed Maria’s life.

For her, the final whistle wasn’t the end of a football tournament.

It was the beginning of freedom.

Although Maria’s story is a composite based on patterns experienced by trafficking survivors around the world, her experience reflects the reality faced by millions.

The International Labour Organization estimates that 27.6 million people are trapped in forced labour worldwide, generating approximately $236 billion in illegal profits every year. Nearly 50 million people are living in modern slavery, including forced labour and forced marriage.

Ahead of and during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, human rights organisations documented widespread reports of migrant workers experiencing passport confiscation, recruitment debt, wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and barriers to leaving exploitative employers. While important labour reforms were introduced, many workers still reported serious abuses, reminding us that major sporting events can expose existing vulnerabilities if strong protections are not in place.

Human trafficking is not always hidden in abandoned buildings or dark alleyways.

Sometimes it happens in hotels.

Sometimes in restaurants.

Sometimes on construction sites.

Sometimes in private homes.

Sometimes in plain sight.

At Rahab’s Daughters, we believe awareness is one of the greatest tools we have to prevent exploitation.

Look for the signs:

* Someone who cannot access their own passport or identification.

* A worker whose wages are repeatedly withheld.

* Someone who appears fearful or unable to speak freely.

* A person who is always accompanied and never allowed to make their own decisions.

* Someone who seems trapped by debt, threats, or intimidation.

Never put yourself at risk by confronting a suspected trafficker. Instead, report your concerns through the appropriate safeguarding channels or to local law enforcement.

Behind every statistic is a person.

A daughter.

A sister.

A mother.

A friend.

Someone’s whole world.

As we celebrate the World Cup, let’s remember that the greatest victory is not lifting a trophy.

It is ensuring every person has the freedom to live, work, and dream without exploitation.

Learn the signs. Share the message. Support the work of Rahab’s Daughters. Together, we can help ensure that hope—not exploitation—has the final whistle.

Maria is a fictional name used for a composite story inspired by documented trafficking survivor experiences. It is not the story of one identifiable individual for safety reasons.

Call 1-833-4newday if you need help.

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www.rahabsdaughters.org.uk