​As part of the ‘Supporting Malta in the design and implementation of a new national Anti-Trafficking Strategy’ Joint project, research was carried out among victims and survivors of human trafficking in Malta to understand the efficacy of the identification process and assistance provided. A secondary aim was to understand how recruitment into exploitation was taking place in Malta.

A total of nine people participated. All were third country national adults who had entered Malta via the airport on visas, and experienced labour exploitation or domestic servitude. This research should be continued in order to gain a fuller picture of the reality of human trafficking in Malta.

Some of the issues raised included the challenge in short term residency, gaining longer term residence, accessing information about rights and entitlements, and the issue of exploitative employment agencies.

This research fulfils Action 9 of the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking​: ‘Research among former victims of human trafficking in Malta, with a view to obtaining information about their recruitment and experience, as well as the efficacy of assistance provided’.