Before You Go Campaign

The “Before You Go” information campaign informs labour migrants from Ukraine, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania about the risks of labour exploitation. The campaign was jointly developed by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and the Swedish Gender Equality Agency.

The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), and the Swedish Gender Equality Agency are launching the campaign ‘Before You Go‘, a joint information campaign to fight labour exploitation. The campaign aims to get information to labour migrants and displaced persons from Ukraine, Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania about the risks of labour exploitation, and also the rights they have as workers.

Labour exploitation and human trafficking for forced labour are prevalent in a number of industries in the Baltic Sea Region, including the construction sector, hotel and restaurant industry, berry picking and domestic services. 

The information campaign ‘Before You Go’ aims to reach people who plan to look for work in Sweden, and in the Baltic Sea Region. The campaign consists partly of a video, which is available on YouTube, where people who have already become established in the CBSS member state Sweden offer advice to their compatriots, and partly of an information page on the Swedish Gender Equality Agency’s website.

The campaign concept ‘Before You Go’ starts with Sweden as an area of focus and the hope is to spread the campaign throughout the Baltic Sea Region, with similar films adapted to national contexts. 

“Labour exploitation and human trafficking are serious crimes that increase in times of crisis. My hope is that this campaign will help more people find secure paths to employment and that other states in the Baltic Sea Region join our campaign concept ‘Before You Go”, says Edi Mujaj, senior advisor at the Council of the Baltic Sea States.

Campaign launch

The “Before You Go” campaign was launched on 15 November 2022 by the CBSS and the Swedish Gender Equality Agency at the CBSS Secretariat in Stockholm with special guests from the Embassies of Bulgaria, Romania and Poland in Sweden.

See images from the launch event
Before You Go Campaign website

Dissemination

Do you want to contribute to making working abroad as safe as possible? Become a campaign ambassador and help us spread the #BeforeYouGoCampaign.

Other resources


#BeforeYouGoCampaign