La Strada Documentation Center

Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labour or Labour Exploitation in the Czech Republic

Document number
1378
Date
2006
Title
Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labour or Labour Exploitation in the Czech Republic
Author/publisher
Petra Burčíková, La Strada Czech Republic
Availability
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Document type(s)
Research/Study/Analysis,
Keywords
Migrant rights; Migration management; Comprehensive approach to migration; Migration policy; Irregular Migration, Feminization of migration, Economic migration, Labour migration, Free movement, Undocumented migrants; Undocumented labour;
Summary
The aim of the research, on which this report is based, was to identify and assess the situation in the area of trafficking in human beings for the purposes of forced labour in the Czech Republic, especially for purposes other than sexual exploitation. Based on the information and outcomes of this research, recommendations targeting prevention of this phenomenon and better protection of the rights of migrant workers has been formulated. The research was carried out in the framework of an international project ‘Trafficking for Forced Labour’ (JAI/AGIS/2003/073) funded by the AGIS Programme of the European Commission in partnership with 4 European NGOs – La Strada Czech Republic, Anti-Slavery International, UK, Migrant Rights Centre, Ireland, and the Association for Victim Support (APAV), Portugal. To enable a final synchronisation of the outcomes from each of the 4 country reports, the research methodology had to be shared by all international project partners (necessary national variations were given for the specific country context). With respect to the research methodology there are a number considerations that should be made. It is a new area of research that is often complicated by the context of illegality. So far there has been no clear system of data collection to enable international comparison. Moreover, gathering information from victims, hence “using” them for research purposes, is also ethically problematic – their disclosure could for example cause their deportation by the authorities. The complex political and economical context associated with the demand for migrant workers and cheap products/ labour offers further complications for researchers. These factors present serious challenges to researchers when attempting to obtain the relevant, particularly quantitative, data needed to provide a substantial overview of the situation. For these reasons, the main focus in this project was put on qualitative research methods.
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