Exploited migrant workers often work long hours in poor conditions, which are below national standards and they often have little choice or possibility to change the situation ( Jokinen & Ollus 2019). Different features of labour exploitation are described in the picture on the next page. The vulnerability to severe exploitation and human trafficking increases significantly when a person is not able to leave the situation due to fear of punishment or other negative consequences, or when workers have to pay high recruitment fees and therefore find themselves in debt bondage (Lietonen & Ollus 2018). The employment relationship may seem legal on paper, where the salary and working hours follow the applicable collective agreement or national stipulations, but in reality, a person’s bank cards may be withheld along with their passports or residence permits so that they do not have access to their earnings. Workers may sign legitimate employment contracts, but these contracts are not respected by the employer, or there may be other bogus contracts with different terms and conditions of employment than exist in reality (Lietonen & Ollus 2018). Furthermore, victims of exploitation may be unaware of their actual situation or be reluctant to seek help since exploitation is often linked to their dependent position in relation to the employer as a result of financial difficulties, a lack of options, a lack of knowledge of appropriate working conditions, a fear of consequences and a lack of knowledge of local languages or means of seeking help (Ollus 2016).
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Navigating through your supply chain
Labour Exploitation and Human Trafficking Explained
