Human trafficking is often a crime concealed in plain sight, so it is important to recognise its warning signs. By knowing the red flags of human trafficking, individuals and communities can play an essential role in combating this crime and supporting efforts to bring traffickers to justice.

Indicators that someone may be a victim of human trafficking include:

• Work excessively long hours
• Be underpaid/not paid at all
• Live with their employer/multiple people in a small space
• Suffer poor living conditions
• Not be in possession of identification documents
• Be unable to move freely
• Show a distrust for authorities
• Experience insults or threats
• Show signs of abuse or violence
• Live or travel in a group
• Have no money of their own
• Have no work contract
• Have evidence of branding that may indicate ownership

Some indicators that might help to spot a victim of human trafficking for sexual exploitation:

• Are there signs that the person uses a false name or shows signs indicating ‘ownership’?
• Are there signs that the person is being forced to have sexual intercourse by someone else?
• Are there signs that the person is being forced to wear clothing customarily used for sexual purposes?
• Are there signs that the person is being forced to consume drugs or alcohol?

Some indicators that might help to spot a victim of human trafficking for labour exploitation:

• Does the person work long hours without rest?
• Does the work look hard and dangerous?
• Does the person eat unhealthy food and live in unsuitable accommodation?
• Is the person prevented from leaving the workplace unsupervised or are they under constant surveillance?
• Are there signs that the person is a victim of violence or abuse?

Some indicators that might help in spotting a victim of child trafficking:

• Does the child perform work which is not suitable for his/her age?
• Does the child look intimidated?
• Does the child have no access to education?
• Does the child travel unaccompanied by adults or in groups with persons who are not relatives?
• Does the child have no time for playing?
• Is the child given only leftovers to eat?
• Does the child live somewhere inappropriate, like a work address or dirty, cramped, unhygienic or overcrowded accommodation?
• Is the child consistently wearing the same clothes?
• Does the child appear to have their communication and actions controlled by another?

Some indicators that might help in spotting a victim of domestic servitude:

• Does the person live with a family/their employer?
• Does the person have no private space?
• Does the person sleep in a shared or inappropriate space?
• Has the person been reported missing by their employer even though they are still living in their employer’s house?
• Does the person never or rarely leave the house for social or leisure reasons?
• Does the person never leave the house without their employer?
• Is the person subjected to insults, abuse, threats or violence by their employer?

Some indicators that might help in spotting a victim of human trafficking for forced begging or forced criminal activity:

• Are there children, elderly persons or disabled migrants who tend to beg in public places and on public transport?
• Are the children carrying and/or selling illicit drugs?
• Does the person have physical impairments that appear to be the result of mutilation?
• Are the children part of large groups who have the same adult guardian?
• Are they punished if they do not collect enough money or steal enough?
• Do they live, as gang members, with adults who are not their parents?

These are not exhaustive lists. If a person exhibits some or the majority of these signs, then they might be a victim of human trafficking.

If you think that you are a victim of human trafficking, contact emergency services on 112 for immediate assistance.

For support services including information, legal advice and emotional support, contact the Victims of Crime Helpline on 116 006.

For shelter, psychological support and social assistance contact the Foundation for Social Welfare Services on 179.

If you have reasons to suspect that someone may be a victim of human trafficking, then it is your duty to report to the Malta Police Force on 119 or by contacting the relevant authorities:

Department for Industrial and Employment Relations

To report working conditions:  1575

The Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) works to protect the interests of workers holding employment contracts while, in a spirit of social partnership, actively promote a healthy relationship and contribute towards stable industrial relations.

This unit is responsible for monitoring conditions of employment and processing complaints of workers who are still in employment.  This involves an ongoing programme of inspections to target particular sectors or to investigate specific complaints. This unit also investigates complaints of employees whose employment has been terminated, whether of their own accord or by the employer and is also responsible for referral of cases to the Law Courts.

Jobsplus

Report anonymously via Freephone: 80076501 or by filling in this form:
https://jobsplus.gov.mt/forms