The tourism sector is often praised as a “chimneyless industry”.
But behind this bright image lies the reality of harsh working conditions and exploitation.
Drivers, especially those working in tourism transportation, are forced to work long hours behind the wheel in a modern slavery system.
Drivers transporting tourists to hotels, airports and tourist sites are often exposed to working hours of up to 14-16 hours a day.
The right to rest is virtually ignored, overtime is often unpaid and low wages are imposed.
Some businesses employ drivers without insurance to reduce costs, both exploiting labor and pushing the future of employees into uncertainty.
While the tourism sector generates millions of dollars in revenue, drivers, who play a major role in generating this revenue, often receive the lowest share.
Tired, sleep deprived and under pressure, drivers risk not only their own health but also the safety of the passengers they transport.
The reality is that behind the shining showcase of the tourism sector are thousands of drivers whose labor has been cheapened and devalued.
If this pattern of exploitation does not change, the talk will not be about the growth of tourism, but about the denial of the rights of working people.