Workshop in Madrid: trade unions and NGOs against trafficking for forced labour

The 3rd sub-regional workshop in the framework of a two-year joint initiative of the International Trade Union Confederation/Pan-European Regional Council (ITUC-PERC) and Anti-Slavery International against trafficking for labour exploitation in Europe, supported by the European Commission took place that in Madrid, Spain, on 1-3 February 2010.

The initiative is intended to bring together NGOs and trade unions across Europe, to raise awareness, to share good practice, to foster communication and development of an integrated strategy for workplace action on trafficking and the protection of trafficked people.

The seminar has focused on exchanging experiences in reducing forced labour and anti-trafficking actions, strengthening networks between trade unions and NGOs, looking at development of common action plans. The workshop provided an opportunity to brainstorm potential implications of the world economic crisis on trends of labour migration in the region.

Trade unions and NGO representatives from Ireland, Sweden, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, ITUC/PERC, Antislavery International.

It was decided to start bilateral cooperation between Baltic and Spanish Trade unions on migrants workers protection and organising. According to the data the leading countries of labour trafficking cases in Europe are Italy, Spain and U.K.