Breaking Down Labour Trafficking: Investigating Company and Victim-focused Risk Factors for Improved Detection

• In Event: Criminology of Mobility. Panel 2. Human trafficking trends and identification of victims

Abstract

In today’s capitalist economy, the exploitation of workers represents a tangible risk, facilitated by deregulation and flexibility of labour markets. Additionally, increased migration, due to conflicts or poverty in migrants’ home countries, creates a favourable condition for traffickers and exploiters who seek access to a cheap workforce, without the need to provide legal protection. In this context, proactively examining the risk factors embedded in the characteristics of labour supply and demand is essential for promptly identifying instances of exploitation.
This paper will present the results of a preliminary analysis of the factors that are associated with increased risk of labour trafficking, based on national and international investigations and judicial decisions. The identified risk factors highlight the intricate nature of labour trafficking, which often involves legitimate companies and is connected to other types of corporate crimes and violations of labour laws. On the labour supply side, several victim-focused risk factors are identified to support professionals in detecting signs of exploitation during interactions with potential victims. The analysis, conducted within the EU co-funded INVERT project (GA 101101914), contributes to the development of a risk assessment model to support law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in identifying victims and companies potentially involved in labour trafficking.

Authors

• Francesco Calderoni, Transcrime / Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan)

• Clara Rondani, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

• Michele Riccardi, Transcrime - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore