Forced labor is on the rise across Europe and has overtaken sexual exploitation as the dominant form of modern slavery in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Portugal, the Council of Europe announced on Tuesday.
However, efforts to put an end to this practice, particularly prevalent in sectors such as agriculture and construction, are hindered by a lack of criminal prosecution and court rulings, limited labor laws and inspections, and the fear of the victims themselves, the report states.
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– An increasing number of people in Europe are forced to work in horrific conditions, both within and beyond national borders, said Siobhan Mullally, head of the Council of Europe’s group combating this form of modern slavery.
– States across Europe must work closely with non-governmental organizations, trade unions, and the private sector to help stop this abhorrent exploitation and abuse, she stated in a press release.
Most victims of forced labor in Europe are men working in sectors such as fishing and manufacturing, while women are typically trapped in isolated environments such as domestic work or caring for the sick and elderly, the report notes.
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Victims often hesitate to seek help because they depend on their exploiters for work, food, and shelter or fear deportation and retaliation if they speak out, activists emphasize.
– Approaching the authorities is a risk that many victims do not dare to take, said Kate Roberts, head of the office of the Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking, based in the UK.
Stronger Labor Laws and Professional Labor Inspectors
European laws against human trafficking need to be supported by stronger labor laws and professional labor inspectors to cover the entire economy and identify victims, the Council of Europe states.
– No law against human trafficking will be effective on its own if it is not accompanied by policies and regulations in other relevant areas, said Klara Skrivankova, manager for the UK and Europe at the London-based organization Anti-Slavery International.
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Victims often hesitate to seek help because they depend on their exploiters for work, food, and shelter or fear deportation and retaliation if they speak out.
Nearly 25 million people worldwide were victims of forced labor in 2016, whether in factories, on farms, fishing boats, in households, or as sexual slaves, according to data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Walk Free Foundation.
The Council of Europe promotes human rights and democracy in 47 member states. Its legally binding convention against human trafficking has been signed by all European states except Russia, obliging them to take a wide range of measures to prevent human trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute those responsible.
