The billboards of the image of an employer unmasked and with the logo of the Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) – the Ministry of Labour – the public is being warned of that “Behind a boss there may be a trafficker in persons” (“Detrás de un jefe puede haber un tratante”), has created controversy.
The controversy is not over the message, rather that the MTSS never gave approval for such advertising.
“Unfortunately I was not informed of the beginning of the campaign prior to its publication (…). In the institution we have an internal directive that establishes that any publication of any nature that is made with the official logo of the Ministry must be approved by the Office of Press and Communication and by the office under my charge, in this specific case that did not happen ” , stressed the minister of Labor, Alfredo Hasbum.
“The issue of trafficking is a very sensitive issue in which we have been working with our representative at the Conatt (National Coalition for Trafficking and Trafficking in Persons) and the campaign is definitely very unfortunate occurrence and therefore the order the removal of the billboards,” said Hasbum.
In addition, the minister said he has ordered an investigation, that may result in disciplinary measures for those responsible for approving the campaign without the MTSS approval.
The company behind the campaign said it has already begun to remove the billboards.
