The theme of dignified labour conditions is topical and gains in importance. Different risks can lead to labour exploitation and trafficking in human beings. Listen to a series of the European Migration Network (EMN) podcasts on this topic.

In the series of podcasts from the EMN National Conference from December 2022 in Bratislava, Slovakia, on dignified labour conditions, you will learn:

• about the legal framework of modern slavery,
• what role the European Labour Authority (ELA) plays in the fight against labour exploitation,
• why it is in the interest of employers to protect migrant workers,
• what measures Ukraine has adopted during the war to fight labour exploitation and human trafficking,
• what are the legal frameworks to protect victims of labour exploitation in Italy, Luxemburg and the United Kingdom.

The podcasts are available in English.

You can listen to the lectures from the conference 2022:

Katarina Schwarz: Legal provisions against modern slavery in the world

The presentation examines the history of slavery, human exploitation and abolitionism. It provides an up-to-date overview of the national legal framework against slavery, practices similar to slavery, servitude, forced labour and human trafficking around the globe. The presentation is based on the work of the Rights Lab of the Nottingham University, the largest research centre dedicated to putting an end to modern slavery.

Katarina Schwarz, Assistant Professor in Antislavery Law and Policy and Associate Director of the Rights Lab, at the University of Nottingham, The United Kingdom

Listen to the presentation:

Pedro Assares: How the EU reduces the risks of labour exploitation and human trafficking

The presentation frames the activities of the European Labour Authority (ELA), the EU agency based in Bratislava, it explains what makes labour inspectors unique in detecting labour exploitation, and why there is an overlap between what the labour inspectors and law enforcement authorities do in the area of labour abuse. You will also learn how ELA addresses trafficking for labour exploitation.

Pedro Assares, Head of the Enforcement and Analysis Unit, European Labour Authority (ELA), Slovakia

Listen to the presentation:

Philip Hunter: The role of employers in upholding the human and labour rights of foreign workers

The risk of labour exploitation is among the huge risks within labour migration and in different levels of supply chains. The presentation outlines the trends since the 1990s and reasons why employers and the business sector focus on human rights and the protection of migrant workers.

Philip Hunter, Head of Labour Migration Unit, IOM Headquarters, Switzerland

Listen to the presentation:

Yarema Dul: Labour exploitation and human trafficking from the perspective of a source country

In the presentation, you will learn what activities Ukraine has put in place to reduce the risks of being exploited or trafficked in the middle of ongoing war conflict where millions of displaced people face these risks. The presentation also explains which entities are involved in the activities and highlights a need for international cooperation to fight the trafficking in human beings and undeclared work.

Yarema Dul, Deputy Head of State Labour Service, Ukraine

Listen to the presentation:

Panel discussion: Addressing labour exploitation and exploitative labour conditions – good practices and lessons learnt from selected countries

Guests of the discussion presented the legal frameworks on the protection of (potential) victims of labour exploitation that are in place in Italy, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Discussants:

• Adolfo Sommarribas, Senior Legal Advisor, EMN Luxembourg
• Darryl Dixon, Director of Strategy at Government, UK Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), The United Kingdom
• Giovanni Di Dio, Migration and Labour Integration Policy Specialist, Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Italy

The discussion was moderated by Zuzana Vatráľová, Head of IOM Ireland.

Listen to the discussion:

All EMN Slovakia Podcasts:

Listen to: https://emnslovakia.podbean.com/.

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The activities of EMN Slovakia are funded by the European Union and co-funded by the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.