Labour exploitation is a significant concern in the Western Balkans, affecting local and migrant workers across Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, says a new report from the Global Initiative on Transnational Organized Crime. 

Between 2018 and 2023, authorities in the region recorded 767 confirmed and potential victims of labour exploitation, including forced begging, with 2021 seeing the highest number of reported cases, followed by fluctuations in subsequent years, says the report, “Forced to work: Labour exploitation in the Western Balkans”.

This form of exploitation, defined as workplace abuse for profit, sees employers benefit from unethical or illegal treatment of workers, according to the NGO. Common abuses include non-payment or underpayment of wages, excessive working hours and unsafe conditions, often in blatant disregard of labour laws. 

"Labour exploitation, characterised by workplace abuse for profit through unethical or illegal treatment of workers has become unfortunately an increasing issue in this region,” Fatjona Mejdini, director of Global Initiative’s South Eastern Europe Observatory, told a webinar on August 7. 

“This happening at a time when worsening conditions and abuses are one of the reasons pushing young people to move and seek better opportunities abroad – with significant social and economic consequences for the region.” 

Mejdini points out that concurrently with large-scale emigration, each of the countries in the region are receiving tens of thousands of foreign workers every year, taking up jobs in the tourism sectors of Albania and Montenegro, as well as services and industry sectors in other countries. 

“These workers are among the most vulnerable to be exploited given additional challenges they have to face in a system already riddled with gaps,” warned Mejdini. 

Human trafficking 

The Western Balkans is a region of origin, transit, and destination for victims of human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation. According to the US Department of State’s annual reports on trafficking in persons, labour exploitation accounted for 46% of human trafficking in the region between 2018 and 2023. From 2018 to 2021, there were consistent annual increases in the number of labour exploitation victims, with a decline in 2022 followed by a sharp 63% increase in 2023.

Compared to EU countries, there are a number of economic factors in the Western Balkans that raise the risks of labour exploitation, according to Sasa Djordjevic, senior analyst at Global Initiative. 

“High poverty rates, youth unemployment and informal economy are three factors that increase the risk of labour exploitation in the Western Balkans,” Djordjevic told the webinar. 

Fieldwork by civil society and the Balkans Act Now network presents a different narrative from official figures, showing much higher estimates for trafficking, with sexual exploitation accounting for 80% of cases. 

"Sexual exploitation has been the dominant form of human trafficking for 20 years, but labour exploitation cases have been increasing since 2020," said Marija Anđelković, founder and executive director of NGO ASTRA.

Recent allegations highlight the growing regional concern. In 2023, Montenegrin authorities arrested six people, including a government official, for exploiting Turkish construction workers. In 2021, Taiwanese citizens were coerced into online fraud operations in North Macedonia and Montenegro. The European Parliament and United Nations have responded to these and other incidents, particularly regarding the alleged trafficking of Vietnamese workers to Serbia.

Research indicates that the problems are not limited to foreign workers. Western Balkan citizens also endure exploitative working conditions, especially in construction, manufacturing and hospitality. 

Labour exploitation is particularly pervasive in these sectors, where workers often endure inadequate compensation, long hours and substandard environments. 

The report reveals that abuses frequently involve confiscation of personal documents, coercive fixed-term contracts, and employer intimidation. Corruption and inadequate law enforcement exacerbate these issues, allowing traffickers to operate with impunity. Despite official records, civil society estimates suggest the actual number of victims could be significantly higher, highlighting the hidden nature of this crisis.

One construction worker from Bosnia cited in the report reported working with toxic materials in sweltering conditions from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for €350 per month, with employers failing to provide legally mandated refreshments. Despite contacting labour inspectors, their plight remains unresolved.

Action required 

Labour exploitation in the Western Balkans not only violates human rights but also poses significant economic challenges. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach, involving all stakeholders, to ensure safe and fair working conditions for all, argued the report.

The lack of incentives for state employees to tackle this issue, combined with inadequate protection for whistle-blowers, contributes to the normalisation of this crisis.

“Effort should be made to widely raise awareness of labour exploitation to the broader public … so victims know when it is happening, what rights they have, what to do when they encounter it, what protection mechanisms are in place and where to report it,” said Vanja Petrovic, programme manager at Global Initiative. 

Civil society organisations stress the need for enhanced data collection and standardised reporting systems to better understand and address the extent of labour exploitation, according to Global Initiative. Improving legal and policy frameworks, strengthening law enforcement, and increasing regional cooperation are crucial steps. Efforts must also focus on supporting victims, raising awareness, and combating corruption. Policymakers and the private sector are urged to collaborate to promote economic diversification, formalise the informal economy, and reform social protection programmes to support vulnerable families.