The IOM led Berlin Alliance against Labour Trafficking is today
launching a nationwide campaign to raise public awareness on the
issue of trafficking for labour exploitation.

The campaign, which will run until the end of November
throughout Germany, urges the public to think about the links that
exist between human trafficking and labour exploitation, which are
largely driven by a relentless demand for cheap labour and
services.

According to estimates of the International Labour Organization
(ILO), at least 12.3 million people worldwide are victims of forced
labour.

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Links alt="" border="0" height="12" hspace="0" src=
"/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/shared/mainsite/graphics/interface/icons_buttons/blue_link_box.gif"> "http://www.gegen-menschenhandel.de/" target="_blank" title=
"">Campaign website

"Trafficking for labour exploitation is often not recognized at
first glance," says Philipp Schwertmann, Head of the IOM Germany
Counter-Trafficking Team. "This crime is nevertheless widespread in
many different industries, including the restaurant and catering
sectors, private household services and in the construction and
agricultural sectors."

Victims of trafficking for forced labour have no other choice
but to work unduly long hours with little to no pay, with high
debts often owed to recruitment agencies and threats of violence
from employers.

As part of the campaign, a dedicated website containing general
information about trafficking for labour exploitation, information
on the rights of employees and available counselling services in 14
different languages is also being launched today.

It includes industry-specific indicator lists to help identify
trafficking and labour exploitation as well as a selection of case
descriptions from within Germany and abroad.

Billboards underlying the hidden and harmful nature of
trafficking for labour exploitation will be distributed throughout
the country and a video will be shown in movie theatres in Berlin
and on the Berlin subway screens.

The World Day for Decent Work is commemorated globally. It was
established in 2008 by the International Trade Union Confederation
(ITUC) to promote humane working conditions.

The Berlin Alliance against Labour Trafficking is a joint
project between the IOM, the confederation of German Trade Unions
(DGB), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Berlin
Senate Department for Integration, Work and Social Issues
(SenIAS).

For more information, please go to:  "paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"http://www.gegen-menschenhandel.de/" target="_blank" title=
"">gegen-menschenhandel.de

For other information please contact:

Philipp Schwertmann

IOM Berlin

Tel: +49 30 27877818

E-mail: "mailto:pschwertmann@iom.int">pschwertmann@iom.int