New report outlines reality of worker exploitation in Wellness industry
"Behind the wellness industry’s scented oils and soothing music are often underpaid, exploited workers", 29 May 2025
... Global spending on wellness tourism is projected to hit US$8.5 trillion by 2027. Rather than being a passing fad, spending in this sector is forecast to nearly triple by 2035. This is big business. ...
The massage therapists, spa staff, yoga instructors and retreat hosts – often women, migrants and workers from the Global South – frequently experience substandard, undignified working conditions.
[...] new report, In Decent or Dirty Work?, examines an often overlooked part of the wellness industry. We propose a model to shift the industry from “dirty to decent” in line with the United Nations’ sustainable development goal eight supporting “decent work and economic growth”. ... Progress towards decent work in wellness tourism is undermined by workers in some cases facing low pay, insecure employment and poor working conditions. ...