Europe-Wide Operation Targets Labour Exploitation, 54 Arrests

Authorities across Europe have carried out a coordinated operation to tackle labour exploitation, resulting in 54 arrests and the identification of 404 potential victims of human trafficking.

The action, led by France and the Netherlands and supported by Europol and the European Labour Authority, involved law enforcement, border agencies, and labour and tax inspectors from 32 countries. The operation placed particular focus on sectors considered vulnerable, including agriculture, hospitality, food delivery, meat processing, domestic care, construction, and logistics, with attention also given to the exploitation of non-EU nationals and refugees.

Checks revealed familiar patterns of exploitation, such as unpaid or underpaid labour, withholding of identity documents, illegal employment practices by temporary work agencies, poor living conditions provided by employers, excessive working hours, undeclared work, and cases involving minors. Authorities noted that actual instances of forced labour likely remain underreported.

Individual cases highlighted the seriousness of the issue. In Spain, a Nepalese worker found living in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions on an agricultural site was relocated to safety, with investigations now underway. In Hungary, seven citizens—including a minor—were freed from forced labour on pig farms, and additional arrests were made in an ongoing cross-border investigation into a trafficking ring recruiting workers from Romania. In Ukraine, 13 Uzbek labourers were freed from exploitation at an agricultural enterprise near Kyiv, with four alleged traffickers arrested.

Officials involved in the operation emphasised the value of a “multidisciplinary” approach, with law enforcement, labour inspectors, and border agencies coordinating activities to improve information-sharing and early detection of trafficking indicators. While the operation is being presented as a meaningful step, authorities acknowledge that labour exploitation continues to be widespread across the continent, particularly in industries dependent on seasonal and low-wage workers.

Participating Countries:
Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Overall, the results of the action include:

• 22 296 officers from law enforcement and labour and tax authorities participating in the action;
• 194 995 entities checked (including 73 218 persons, 11 815 locations, 26 412 vehicles and 83 958 documents)
• 93 persons suspected of trafficking human beings identified (of which 92 for labour exploitation)
• 54 persons arrested for various crimes (of which 44 for labour exploitation)
• 404 potential victims of human trafficking identified (of which 393 potential victims of labour exploitation)
• 341 new investigations in various crimes launched (of which 43 in labour exploitation)