The Relationship Between Recruitment Practices and Trafficking in Human Beings for Forced Labour, Exploitation for Forced Labour, and Other Exploitative Labour Situations of Lithuanians Abroad

Through interviews with Lithuanian labour migrants and experts, the report presents the characteristics of the recruitment of Lithuanians for jobs abroad, their travel, receipt, and exploitation in the country of destination, as well as challenges in the prevention of the recruitment practices that facilitate exploitation. The report also presents a set of recommendations for the prevention of the recruitment practices.

Economic push factors can to a high degree explain why Lithuanian nationals travel to countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Norway to work, but the type of work conditions they face vary greatly. In their journey for a higher salary and living standard, Lithuanians travelling abroad for job opportunities in other EU member states may sometimes be exploited in human trafficking for forced labour and labour exploitation in the country of destination. Exploitative situations are particularly common in cases where the job has been found through the services of private employment agencies, instead of employment services provided by state agencies. Often, these jobs are posted online or on social media by middlemen or disseminated in social circles. In these exploitative schemes designed to attract Lithuanians abroad with the purpose to exploit them, private recruitment companies often cooperate with temporary employment agencies in the country of destination.