HUMAN TRAFFICKING & FORCED LABOUR IN DENMARK? Researching migration patterns and working conditions of migrant labourers in three sectors DEFLECT Project Expert Conference, Oslo, 7-8th June, 2011 ANDERS LISBORG

Background Previously primarily focus on prostitution Increasingly international focus on trafficking for forced labour and known cases in other European countries 1 person identified in DK as a victim of trafficking for forced labour (Bulgarian man working in News Paper delivery) – so far no prosecutions. Limited knowledge - no research. CMM decided to develop a series of research reports on HT & forced labour in DK

Research objectives & questions Research Objective: -Explore areas and sectors in which trafficking for forced labour could take place in Denmark. Research focus on: -Recruiting mechanisms – how and organized by whom? -Living & working conditions -Migrant expectations about living & working conditions prior to migration compared to their real experiences -Identifying cases of labour exploitation, forced labour and human trafficking (through a list of indicators)

Sectors & methodology Domestic workers (Au-Pairs) (2009) Agriculture (2011) Cleaning & service industry (2011) Explorative qualitative study combined with desk-study sector research Not statistically representative – aims to provide in-depth insight to the plight of migration workers WorkersExpertsTotal Au-pair27n.a.27 Agriculture15621 Cleaning14520 Total561168

Sector overview & findings: Agriculture Different groups of migrants: Individual migrants (hired through recruitment agencies and individual job-seekers) (Majority) Posted migrants (contracted through foreign agencies) (increasing group) Illegal migrants (relatively few) Migrant trainees and students in agriculture in 2008: ( mainly from Ukraine – decreasing) Difficult to get overview – but clear trend: – a sharp increase of migrants workers in agriculture

Sector overview & findings: Agriculture Migrant wage-laboures in agriculture Estimate: 30-35% - or approx. 1/3of all wage-laboures in agriculture are migrants. (Poland, Baltic countries, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, and Czech Republic) Structural background for this: –Expansion of EU (new countries) –End of transition agreement (so-called East-agreement) – free movement of labours & free labour markets in EU. –Globalisation and structural changes in the agricultural sector e.g. increased competition, demand for cheap and flexible labour – increase in recruitment agencies offering cheap labour.

Sector overview & findings: Agriculture Recruitment Vast majority migrate and obtain contracts through recruitment agencies Paid between kr ( EUR) to agents and recruitment agencies Majority took loans to finance migration (from family) Many felt discrepancies between what they had been promised and what they experienced after arrival

Sector overview & findings: Agriculture Working & living conditions: Relatively long hours (8-9 hours per day – many more than 9hrs a day in average) Few days off (many had only 1day off per week) Generally low wages. Some recruitment agencies offered labourers for approx. 10EUR per hour – left workers with only 5-6 EUR per hr. Many migrant workers live at the worksite and have to pay over- prices for accommodation (deducted from salaries) Many experienced conflicts with their employer and felt threatened. Threats were mostly about being laid off, sent home (before end of contract), thrown out of their accommodation and being black-listed

Sector overview & findings: Agriculture CASE: “SABINA” Negative qualification recruitment ”There was no heat and it was very cold… when it was very cold outside the electricity did not work… I wanted to go back to Romania, but did not have the money” (Woman, 26 years) ”In the end of the contract the manager came with the payment and everyone saw that it was only half of the money they had promised” (Woman, 26years)

Sector overview & findings: Cleaning Approx. 19% (24.073) migrant workers in the cleaning sector. Variety of countries. In this research: Poland, Ghana, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and the Philippines. Most migrants not migrated in order to work in cleaning - unskilled labours who were ready to find any jobs. Long working hours – some from 05am-21pm Many complaint about having to be constantly available to their employer (stress) Low wages e.g kr (1300EUR) a month for 8-9 hours daily work and no days off

Sector overview & findings: Cleaning Some had no contracts and were illegal migrants Uncertain salary deductions for accommodation Isolation and fear of losing jobs Some had to pay/”bribe” cleaning inspectors to keep their jobs (easy and cheap replacement) Some illegal migrants paid to ’rent’ a new identity (ID- card & number) for 450EUR a month to get access to the job market (African respondents). “The salary was DKK a month. I worked 5 months without any days off, 7 days a week. I worked cleaning the rooms, the reception, the restaurants and outside, the garden… 8-9 hours […] I worked with no contract for 2 months” (Woman, 46, Bulgaria)

Cross sector conclusions Well managed labour migration is generally positive both for sending and receiving countries and not at least for the migrant workers. Most migrants seem to have had good experiences and wants to keep their jobs The critical issues and problems mentioned does not seem to be general for the sectors as such – but seems more to be the result of certain bad practices among specific ”rotten apples” among employers and recruitment agencies – this calls for well-targeted interventions.

Cross sector conclusions The research points to a range of critical issues that makes some migrant workers vulnerable to human trafficking: Demand for a cheap and flexible labour Long working hours a few days off Low wages and salary deductions A feeling of having to be constantly available and loosing sense of self-determination Isolation and marginalization (lack of language skills and working in remote areas (agriculture) Lack of knowledge about rights and who to contact for assistance

Cross sector conclusions Multiple dependencies as they have to rely on the agents or employers with regards to work and earnings, accommodation, transport (in remote areas) and residence permit (migrants from third countries) and others issues such as medical assistance etc. The employer and/recruitment agency has in other words often ”the power to harm or to help” which means they can help the migrants as many good employers do or they can harm the migrants as it happens in some cases documented by this research.

Complex realities Main fear among migrants were losing their jobs or not getting enough work to earn as much they hoped for – This is a bit of a paradox with talking about forced labour…and worth consideration in terms of interventions Finally, some migrants preferred to work extra-long hours with almost no days off – and sometime live in cheap relatively unacceptable conditions in order to save money – this raises questions about what ”exploitation” means?

So was it human trafficking? Some indicators points to trafficking – however other important indicators were not present Human trafficking & forced labour in a continuum

Future perspectives Effectively combating trafficking for forced labour imposes new challenges… New partners –Private sector, trade unions, retail industry (super markets), consumers, etc. New approaches –Supply chains (supply chain monitoring), general decent working conditions, chain responsibility, code of conduct, CSR etc.

Thank You! Anders Lisborg