On 18 October, the Anti-Trafficking Day is marked across the European Union.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking forward its last year’s information campaign, “Don’t Let Yourself Be Used”, or “Working abroad. Critically evaluate tempting offers”.
The Embassies of Latvia in foreign countries and the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regularly receive requests from Latvian nationals who have travelled abroad for employment purposes. They want to return home because the employer has not paid the promised salary, does not sign an employment contract, refuses accommodation, takes away documents, denies communication with relatives, and the like. Each year, the cases are also identified of persons being subjected to human trafficking abroad.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, in 2022, seven Latvian nationals were identified who were subjected to trafficking in human beings abroad – labour exploitation, sexual exploitation, or forced to commit criminal offences. Moreover, it is likely that there are many more of such cases. Most often, people are offered better lives, quick and easy earnings. The decision must be taken swiftly, and the information provided is insufficient to critically assess the job offer.
The campaign’s informative materials on labour exploitation and information on the possibilities to seek assistance will be distributed throughout Latvia via websites and social networks with support from the State Employment Agency and the Latvian Association of local and Regional Governments. In association with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior, JSC Riga International Coach Terminal, JSC Pasažieru Vilciens, and Media Port Riga, an informative video will be displayed on screens in the bus terminal and on long-distance trains, as well as at customer service premises in the 29 departments of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs and Riga Airport.