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Systematic exploitation of labour migrants in an otherwise well-regulated danish labour market

Marlene Spanger from the research group Global Refugee Studies, Aalborg University, maps the prevalence of, among other things, forced labour and human trafficking in Denmark.

Nyhed

Systematic exploitation of labour migrants in an otherwise well-regulated danish labour market

Marlene Spanger from the research group Global Refugee Studies, Aalborg University, maps the prevalence of, among other things, forced labour and human trafficking in Denmark.

Denmark is known for ‘the Danish model’ with its fine-meshed welfare system that reflects a thoroughly regulated labour market. But underneath the regulations hides a complex labour market network, which for some labour migrants leads to exploitation, forced labour and human trafficking.

The research project Human Trafficking and Forced Labour (META) maps the migrants' route from their home countries to Denmark. What happens from the migrants' first meeting with the mediation agencies in their home country, until they are employed by Danish employers.

Invisible workers

The project shows how the migration industry (mediation agencies and education), the state's migration policy and digital systems become mechanisms that enable exploitation of labour migrants in agriculture, horticulture, cleaning and construction.

‘The visibility of migrants makes them vulnerable to exploitation in the labour market in ways that are invisible to the authorities. The exploitation takes place even though the migrants have a residence and work permit in Denmark’, says Head of Research Marlene Spanger, Department of Politics and Society.

The project also shows how the Danish labour market regulates the labour force, but it does not necessarily guarantee the rights of migrant workers.

The human trafficking legislation and efforts also do not ensure the rights of migrant workers, but merely regulate immigration to Denmark.