MEPs tighten screw on migrants’ exploitation

The European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee has approved a draft EU law which, if endorsed by member states, will introduce a punishment of up to six years’ imprisonment for the exploitation of migrants.

The new rules, which were originally proposed by the European Commission last year, are intended as a holistic deterrent against human trafficking.

The 27 EU member states do not have a coherent law on human smuggling and trafficking and penalties vary from one country to the other. The EU is trying to harmonise such laws and sanctions in order to make them similar in all its member states.

Many illegal immigrants in Malta are known to be working irregularly, particularly in the construction and tourism industries. They are often exploited and made to work for petty wages and dismal working conditions. Others, particularly Eastern European women, are brought over to the island for prostitution purposes.

According to the draft law, those who knowingly exploit such people, including clients, can now be subjected to imprisonment.

Following the approval of the new draft, MEPs want the penalties foreseen by the Commission’s original proposals to be increased from five to six years for offences such as exploitation for prostitution, forced labour or services, including begging, slavery or practices similar to slavery.

In aggravating circumstances, where such crimes are committed against particularly vulnerable victims, such as children or adults with particular health conditions, disability, mental or psychological disorders, or where the victim has been subjected to forced drug use or torture, the penalty should be increased from at least 10 to a minimum of 12 years.

MEPs also want member states to ensure changes in their national laws so that proceeds from crime and profits from such offences are seized and confiscated and used to support victims.

According to the International Labour Organisation, 1,225,000 people around the world are victims of human trafficking, most of them being forced into prostitution, 43 per cent, or forced labour, 32 per cent.

When it comes to sexual abuse, the vast majority of victims, 98 per cent, are women and young girls.

Around half a million people fall victim to human trafficking every year in the EU, either within the EU itself or being shipped into the EU.

A large number of children, between 10 and 20 per cent of victims according to reliable estimates, are victims of sexual violence during childhood.

According to the Commission, victims are often reluctant to come forward and only a quarter of cases get reported.