Labor exploitation and migrant protection in Slovenia

Efforts to address migrant worker vulnerabilities in Slovenia have emerged through both systemic initiatives and law enforcement interventions.

In response to cases of deception, the Labor Advisory Office and a Filipino association launched the ‘Illegal Employment and Assistance for Ms. Marilag’ project. Supported by the CSF program 2021-2028, the initiative seeks to provide systemic protection for workers who become victims of illegal employment due to misleading recruitment practices.

Concurrently, authorities conducted a rescue operation involving 34 individuals, including 33 Paraguayan nationals and one Bulgarian citizen, discovered in a clandestine cigarette factory. Investigations indicated that trafficking networks recruited the victims with promises of high salaries. The workers were subjected to extreme exploitation, including 12-hour shifts without natural light and restricted movement. Following the dismantling of the factory, the rescued individuals are receiving medical, psychological, and legal support, with Paraguayan officials coordinating their repatriation.