Trafficking in human beings (THB) for labour exploitation is now a priority in the EU anti-trafficking agenda. With emerging attention for this form of THB, new challenges arise. In that regard, trafficking in domestic work is a special case; it entails unique vulnerabilities to exploitation: being performed in private homes, impeding labour inspection, and involving intimate relationship with the perpetrators often far from the criminal networks. It includes situations as diverse as live-in migrant workers, diplomatic households, and even child fostering, or au pairs.

This workshop examined the multifaceted challenges of THB in the domestic work sector and further discussed the broader issue of trafficking for labour exploitation, focusing particularly on issues of demand.

THB for labour exploitation thrives on cheap, flexible and plentiful migrant labour force and on poorly regulated sectors. It affects workers in areas as varied as agriculture, the food industry, garment and textile production, as well as domestic work. Addressing the demand-side requires to put into question multilevel actors and factors: consumer behaviour international corporations’ responsibility, national policies (labour and migration), and societal norms and values which indirectly ‘tolerate’ exploitation of the low skilled and most vulnerable workers. The aim of the workshop was to inform and rethink measures preventing and tackling THB.

This event has brought together researchers, practitioners and key stakeholders in the field in order to discuss research results and promising practices.

The workshop was organised under the auspices of the DemandAT project.

Programme