BAGHDAD, April 24 (UPI) -- Gen. George Casey, the top military commander in Iraq, has ordered the end of human trafficking by private military contractors, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The Tribune did a series several months ago detailing abuses that included hiring workers in countries like Nepal under false pretenses, telling them they would be working in Jordan. Workers were also allegedly charged fees and told that if they left their jobs once they had arrived in Iraq they would have to repay their plane fare. In some cases, passports were allegedly taken away.
The newspaper said the worst abuses involved gang leaders separated from the top military contractors by several layers of sub-contractors.
A memo titled "Subject: Prevention of Trafficking in Persons in MNF-I" and dated April 4 said that the military had confirmed violations of U.S. and Iraqi laws.
The memo also says that contracts must include "language that prohibits contractors and subcontractors at all tiers from utilizing unlicensed recruiting firms, or firms that charge illegal recruiting fees."
