Support victims of human trafficking in Serbia

Based on ASTRA’s experience and the calls we receive via our SOS Hotline, one of the most common methods of recruitment of trafficking victims is through promise of a job. Through job offers, found either on Internet or by word of mouth, alleged employers advertise their need for workers of various profiles, offer uncommonly high wages, visas and work permits (if needed), free accommodation and oftentimes no particular qualifications are asked for. These offers do not necessarily need to lead to a trafficking situation, but instead to unregulated work „in the gray zone“, jobs with very poor working conditions (in extreme cases labor exploitation), or simply financial fraud. According to ASTRA’s experience in the field, as well as the results of our studies show, young people are proven to be at major risk of falling victim to trafficking.

In October, ASTRA received a call from a young woman who found a job offer on the Internet for a waitress in Austria at the sort of a bar/casino. She contacted the man who announced the offer over a social platform and, via a video call, he showed her the bar, the clientele, as well as the waitress whom she will substitute. Based on all information she provided us with, and ASTRA’s contacts with partner organizations in the Austrian city of destination, members of ASTRA Victim Support Unit checked the legitimacy of the offer, employer and destination. We learned that in that Austrian city there is no bar under such name as advertised in the offer, instead, at that address, there is a private house with extensive surveillance system. Since the woman still insisted on accepting the offer, we forwarded her all the contact numbers of local organizations she could contact should she be in any danger or a problem. ASTRA’s contact with this client lasted for several days – as soon as new information regarding the offer would appear, she would try to find a justification for it and still insisted on accepting the job. After having the last talk with the potential employer, some „red flags“ arose. Namely, he mentioned that once she arrives it would be better not to leave the workplace, so „not to attract the attention“ (as she would be working illegally, without visa and other necessary documents). Also, the clients in the bar are known to be „quite pushy and flirty“ so she should know how to refuse them. Finally, the woman was supposed to share the room with her employer and besides being a waitress, she was expected to cook for him.

Once the client was at the disposal of all the necessary information, and once she was supported in her efforts to make an independent, well-informed decision, she decided to decline such a risky offer. In ASTRA, we firmly believe that access to information, patience and support empower people, most of the times it is the only thing that takes for people to take their life in their own hands.

Within SOS Hotline and Direct Victim Assistance Program, ASTRA provides preventive information on the problem of human trafficking, safe migrations, provides victims with various forms of help and support, but also informs citizens about possibilities and conditions for safe and legal work in the country/abroad and checks legitimacy of the employer, destination and the offer.

In 2018, 21% of all calls ASTRA received were of preventive nature.