BY DANIEL KASSAHUN
The International Labour Organization indicates the number of people in forced labour has risen significantly in the last five years.
It says modern labour exploitation occurs in almost every country in the world, and cuts across ethnic, cultural and religious lines.
What is heard from Malawi is part of this scenario. Compared to the adversities of boat crisis in the Mediterranean Sea, sending them in this formal way is relatively better for the migrants from Africa.
For what happened in Malawi, opposition politicians and rights groups have come to criticize President Lazarus Chakwera and his government for sending 221 young Malawians to work on farms in Israel amid concerns over the secrecy with which it was done and the potential risks to citizens at a time Israel is in a conflict with Hamas.
The deal was known by many just to send workers to an unnamed country surprised Malawians as it was kept secret.
The move was followed by Israel’s aid package of $60m (£47m) two weeks ago to help Malawi's economic recovery.
“Sending people to a war-torn country like Israel, where some countries are withdrawing their labour is something unheard of,” Malawian opposition leader Kondwani Nankhumwa told the BBC's Newsday programme.
The government has defended the deal, saying that it will export Malawians to Israel and other countries to “fulfil this administration’s commitment to job creation and youth empowerment”.
Source: BBC