In its Annual Report on Trafficking and Smuggling in Human Beings 2023, Myria focuses on human trafficking for the purposes of economic exploitation and calls for strengthening proactive controls and a thorough chain approach.

Myria underlines inter alia that human trafficking for economic exploitation occurs almost everywhere, but more generally in less regulated sectors where labour shortages are felt. In this regard, Myria invites the competent authorities to redouble their efforts to carry out proactive controls in sectors known to be at high risk and to strengthen the capacity of front-line services, including the ECOSOC teams of the NSSO Inspection service.

Myria also stresses that some companies use all kinds of schemes (fraudulent secondments, false self-employed workers, subcontracting chains...) to reduce their labour costs, which can lead to situations of exploitation and human trafficking. In this regard, Myria recommends the establishment of a legal duty of vigilance, within the framework of which companies must design a policy specifically limiting the risks of economic exploitation and human trafficking. Control mechanisms should be foreseen so that this obligation be applied continuously and permanently. Tools should also be provided to businesses to enable them to do so.

For further information, please read the annual report in French or in Dutch above. You can also read the press releases in French or in Dutch.