Slavery in its modern form

By David Brancaccio
GettyImages-134089982.jpg
Migrant workers from Central America are seen at a centre for illegal immigrants known as 'Estacion Siglo 21' in Tapachula, Mexico. Migrant workers try to avoid drug trafficker gangs who kidnap them to demand ransom, or sell them as slave labor. David Brancaccio
GettyImages-134089982.jpg
Migrant workers from Central America are seen at a centre for illegal immigrants known as 'Estacion Siglo 21' in Tapachula, Mexico. Migrant workers try to avoid drug trafficker gangs who kidnap them to demand ransom, or sell them as slave labor. David Brancaccio

Slavery in its modern form

By David Brancaccio
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South Korea and Japan reached a landmark agreement on Monday to resolve the issue of South Korean women forced to work in Japanese brothels during the second world war. The leaders of both countries said they see this as an opportunity for closer ties going forward.

But even as we go into 2016, numbers for forced labor — slavery — are deeply disturbing. For context, just look at the Global Slavery Index, which compiles an estimate of how many people remain in modern slavery around the world.

Stephan Richter, editor in chief of the Globalist, joins us to compile some numbers on what modern slavery looks like today.