Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
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.
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John F. GALEA - San Gwann
Sep 8th 2010, 06:27
The crux of the problem is illegal migration which is rampant particularly in the Mediterranean litoral. First and foremost the EU should concentrate on how to put a stop to illegal migration, imposing heavy fines and long term imprisonment on traffickers. This is where migrants are initially being exploited.
These illegal migrants are underming the maltese workers who are finding it hard to find a job and to make both ends meet, especially on those bringing up a family. Everybody knows of illegals moonlighting and it is common knowledge to all and sundry but apparently not to the inspectorates of the authorities who seems to be dismally failing in their duties.
The unions primary role is defend and safeguard the rights of the maltese workers. However a certain union seems to be parting from her primary onus since the introduction of EU funds allotted to unions to help the integration of third world nationals. Unions should see that the maltese workers should come first and foremost and that illegals are repatriated to whence they came from.
Parliamentarians are to see that regular dishing out of residence and work permits to non EUs on flimsy and frivolous pretexts should be stopped.
Sean Grima
Sep 8th 2010, 16:01
the GWU has already stated that migrants are not negatively effecting the employment situation.
Robert Callus
Sep 7th 2010, 16:14
A positive step. However without law enforcement it means nothing. I urge readers (some of whom have commented here on other related articles, that they know and witness people working illegally or exploited) to report to the police any such case. If nothing is done, (because the employer happens to have good friends) splash it on the media. It's one of the few things that scares these bullies, since they believe that prisons are only there for lesser mortals.
Charles Sammut
Sep 7th 2010, 20:18
@ Robert Callus
Then put your money where your mouth is and go to Marsa in the morning. There you will see a daily ritual in which immigrants from the open centre, wait by the roundabout for people to pick them up for casual, undocumented labour. Follow one of the trucks and when it gets to the work site, call the police, ha jghidulek "Bravu!"
Can't you see that nothing will happen. Some of the people who employ these immigrants illegally are the same people who finance the political parties. And political parties are not accountable to anyone for their finances. Witness the farce in the last MEP election where hundreds of thousands of Euros were lavished on campaigning and, with a couple of exceptions, only
Sean Grima
Sep 8th 2010, 16:02
dear main street university professor, people being picked up to work in marsa are not necessarily being employed illegally.
Mr Jimmy Vella
Mar 4th, 10:27
@Sean Grima
So you think it`s ok for illegal immigrants loitering for work in one of Malta`s busiest streets and when a prostitute try to do that she is arrested immeadetely.I believe both should be stopped and the law enforced for all sort of exploation these people should be deported and not cause havoc on our streets
joe gatt
Sep 7th 2010, 14:22
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.
Does does not seem to address the issues here in Malta. Illegal migrants here are not being exploited against their will, not when you have line ups at specific points in the Island, irregulars waiting for pickup to the workplace. (part and parcel of the quite visible, black economy)
Sean Grima
Sep 8th 2010, 16:03
you are probably referring to asylum seekers.
Sean Grima
Sep 7th 2010, 12:39
exploitation of any human being, anywhere, is always to be condemned.
Charles Sammut
Sep 7th 2010, 14:42
Hear hear. Even more so when someone exploits people's gullibility by promising them paradise in return for their earthly possessions. Now who would do a thing like that?
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 7th 2010, 18:40
You said it better then I did, Sean Grima. Good man.
CZARB
Sep 7th 2010, 11:50
Well done
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 7th 2010, 11:41
I welcome this new EU wide draft Law against the exploitation and abuse of human beings by the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee. Hopefully all EU states will take this law onboard. It will definitely enhance further the European benchmark on civilisation and humankind worldwide.
Tommy Cassar
Sep 7th 2010, 11:10
They should stop migration and then there would be no migrants to exploit. Migrants only undermine the local workers by accepting lower wages and working condition which is an advantage to the capitalists.
Sean Grima
Sep 7th 2010, 12:40
your comments are disproved by the GWU study.
Charles Sammut
Sep 7th 2010, 14:38
The GWU changed its tune as soon as it started receiving EU funds to set up a project "designed to reinforce the integration of third-country nationals through employment and occupation. It aims to identify specific integration schemes through work. "
After losing the backbone of its workers with the running down of the dockyard and having to sell off its theatre, what do you expect? They sold off the Maltese worker for thirty pieces of EU silver.
So anything that the GWU states in this regard is heavily biased.
Sean Grima
Sep 8th 2010, 16:00
when someone points out something which you don't like, you turn the EU funds tune. people have more integrity than that!
Stephen Koludrovic
Sep 7th 2010, 10:10
And about time too for this law to come into effect.