Number of human trafficking victims in Finland on rise

This year, a record number of victims of exploitation have been referred to the assistance system for victims of human trafficking, said the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) in a press release on Wednesday.

Many of them are considered to have fallen victim to human trafficking for forced labour or to other forms of labour exploitation in Finland.

The assistance system for victims of human trafficking received a total of 185 applications between 1 January and 30 June. The number was 147 during the stipulated period of the previous year.

During the early part of 2022, 139 people and their 26 underage children were taken on as clients in the assistance system.

“People who have fallen victim to human trafficking in Finland are identified by non-governmental organisations in particular,” said Terhi Tafari, Senior Adviser at the assistance system for victims of human trafficking.

Some of the new clients, 63 adults and three minors, were suspected to have fallen victim to exploitation indicating human trafficking in Finland.

Those who had become victims in Finland were most often subjected to forced labour (38 persons), sexual exploitation (16 persons) and forced marriage (11 persons).

The victims of exploitation were most often citizens of Iraq, Finland, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Russia and Morocco.

Immigrants who have experienced labour exploitation in Finland can have fears about working life in Finland.

Many immigrants find it hard to believe that the same labour legislation and the same rights apply to them than to people born in Finland.

“There is a strong motivation to become employed but without a clear understanding of the rules of working life, the risk of becoming exploited increases,” said Tafari.

This has been noticed during the IKUT project, which is coordinated by the assistance system for victims of human trafficking. The project organises working-life training for people who have become victims of human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

During the first half of 2022, several people who are considered to have fallen victim to human trafficking for forced labour or to other forms of labour exploitation in Finland were referred to the assistance system.

Conditions that indicate human trafficking were detected especially in the restaurant business and within the cleaning industry. Even working in greenhouses, in beauty care and in car washes involved risks for workers with foreign background.

During the early part of 2022, there were no such referrals to the assistance system that concerned persons who had fled from Ukraine and been subjected to exploitation indicating human trafficking on their way to Finland or in Finland.

This can suggest that the measures different authorities have taken together to prevent exploitation have been effective. On the other hand, it can indicate that exploitation is yet to be detected.

“It is important that Ukrainians receive information about their rights in Finland. Everyone can help by directing them to reliable official information, which is also available in Ukrainian,” said Tafari.