Welcome to this web page! Below, you will find information about organisations that can offer you help and support.
Page Guide
Working Safe
Whether you are looking for work to provide for your family or to obtain accommodation, it is important to know how to find employment safely.
This summer, you may be considering offers of employment in seasonal work in Southern Europe. As employment opportunities increase, it is important to be aware of sectors that are considered high-risk for exploitation. Mistreatment often includes withheld payments, low wages, poor working conditions and living conditions. Seasonal workers are particularly vulnerable to these types of exploitation.
High-risk sectors include:
Whilst these sectors provide employment opportunities, there is a risk they have the potential to facilitate exploitation.
It is important to remember, a trafficker could be anybody. They can be any age, gender or nationality. They could be someone you know, or someone from your own community.
If you have left Ukraine, and are looking for seasonal work, here are 5 things you should do to keep yourself safe:
1. Tell people where you are working. Note down the address and share it with your friends and family. You can also send them a photo of the address and share your location on your phone.
2. Save emergency numbers on your mobile phone and always keep it with you. Make note of support organisations that can help you.
3. Always keep your ID, travel, and personal documents safe. Do not let your employer hold on to them.
4. Employment contracts can be there to protect you. The lack of a contract poses a risk to your working rights, such as being paid for your work.
5. The National Minimum Wage is the minimum pay almost all workers are entitled to. In most countries, employers are bound by law to pay their workers a national minimum wage.
Italy does not currently have a national minimum wage. There is no mandatory minimum rate of pay for workers in Italy. Pay rates must be agreed upon directly with the employer through collective bargaining or other means of negotiating a fair living wage.
For more information about the National Minimum Wages where you are, click on the options below.
For information about other National Minimum Wages in other countries that are not listed below, you can visit this website for further details.
Domestic Workers – €7.82 per hour | €1,000.00 per month
Contingent and temporary workers – €47.36 per day
General workers – €33.33 pay day | €1,000.00 per month
Working hours
Spain has maximum of 40 hours per week. There is no reference to number of hours per day in the decree, although 8 hours per day is the most used working time when there isn’t a collective agreement that regulates it.
The yearly minimum wage of 12600 euros is arrived at by multiplying monthly wage by 14. In those cases where workers are not paid 14 minimum wages per year, the monthly wage is 1050 euros.
Spain has a government-mandated minimum wage. No worker in Spain should be paid less then this minimum pay rate. Employers in Spain who do not pay the Minimum Wage may be subject to punishment by the government of Spain.
National (Continent) – €705.00 per month €9,870.00 – per year
Autonomous Region of Azores – €740.25 per month €10,363.50 per year
Autonomous Region of Madeira – €722.00 per month €10,108.00 per year
Portugal has a government-mandated minimum wage. No worker in Portugal should be paid less then this minimum pay rate. Employers in Portugal who do not pay the Minimum Wage may be subject to punishment by the government of Portugal.
Statutory Minimum Wage
€1,603.12 – per month
€10.57 – per hour
On the basis of the legal working week of 35 hours, monthly minimum wage will be €1,603.12
France has a government-mandated minimum wage. No worker in France should be paid less then this minimum pay rate. Employers in France who do not pay the Minimum Wage may be subject to punishment by the government of France.
Rates can vary if you are an apprentice or someone under 25. You can find more information here.
General Worker €29.62 – per day €663.00 – per month
Technician, Craftsman €29.62 – per day
Working hours
Minimum wages are based / calculated for 40 hours a week.
Greece has a government-mandated minimum wage. No worker in Greece should be paid less then this minimum pay rate.
Employers in Greece who do not pay the Minimum Wage may be subject to punishment by the government of Greece.
Statutory Minimum Wage €1,603.12 – per month €10.57 – per hour
On the basis of the legal working week of 35 hours, monthly minimum wage will be €1,603.12
France has a government-mandated minimum wage. No worker in France should be paid less then this minimum pay rate. Employers in France who do not pay the Minimum Wage may be subject to punishment by the government of France.
Rates can vary if you are an apprentice or someone under 25. You can find more information here. https://wageindicator.org/salary/minimum-wage/france
If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Indicators of suspicious recruitment
Some job ads posted online might not be legitimate. You should be suspicious of any recruitment process which has any of the following characteristics:
1. The employer demands secrecy
2. Recruiters pressure you, for example demanding personal information too early in the hiring process
3. You are not told the salary for the role at any stage in the hiring process
4. The organisation has minimal online presence
5. You are asked to pay a fee to secure the job
6. The trial period is indefinite
7. You are told that an employment contract is not required
8. The recruiter does not check your right to work
You can report suspicious job ads within The STOP APP.
Once you are employed
You should not have to experience any of the following at work:
- Not been paid for your work
- Being withheld your wages
- Being denied breaks and/or annual leave
- Restricted movement
- Restricted or no access to your earnings
- Being subject to intimidation, coercion, and/or physical or emotional abuse
- No access to your personal documents
- Excessive working hours
If you have experienced any of the above, know this should not be tolerated and there are organisations that can help you.
You can report such incidents within The STOP APP. If possible, document all violations at work in the form of photo/video materials. If anyone is in immediate danger, or a crime is being or has been committed, call the emergency services.
Make sure to make a note of what happened, including details of:
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What the incident was
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When it happened
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Where it happened
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Who was involved + any witnesses to the incident
This information will be important should you decide to seek help. You can download a form here.
STAYING SAFE
Many people who offer help to refugees are genuine, but there may be some people who shouldn’t be trusted.
If you have left Ukraine and have arrived in a new country, here are 8 things to remember to keep yourself safe:
1. Travel in a group.
2. Make sure you tell someone you trust about the trip you are taking.
3. If someone in your group goes missing, tell the police immediately.
4. If you are under 18 and travelling alone make sure your family knows where you are every step of the way.
5. If someone offers you transportation, take a picture of them and their ID, their vehicle and registration and share it with your friends/family.
6. Always keep your ID, travel, and personal documents safe – never give them away only show them to officials if you need to.
7. Save emergency numbers on your mobile phone and always keep it with you.
8. People may offer you work, make sure you know the address of the workplace, share it with friends/family.
If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Getting Support
Here are organisations that can support and help you in different ways.
These contact details will be updated regularly. Please mention STOP THE TRAFFIK if you contact any of the organisations listed below.
If you think you’re in trouble, call 112 to reach the police or contact these organisations below:
112 European emergency number
112 European emergency number If you or anyone you know are in immediate danger, call the 112 European emergency number. The number is free of charge, 24/7, anywhere in the European Union. You can dial 112 to reach the emergency services, including the police, emergency medical services and the fire brigade.
Portugal: APAV | Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima
Italy: Società Cooperativa Sociale On the Road
Contact Number/ Helpline (including country code): +39 3488516943 / +39 800290290
Spain: Proyecto Esperanza (Associate member of La Strada International)
Spain: Sicar cat (Associate member of La Strada International)
Greece: The 1109 National Human Trafficking Hotline
The hotline is available to answer all urgent calls related to human trafficking from anywhere in the country, 24/7, anonymously and with the ability for translation in over 200 languages. To call from Greece a Greek phone call provider dial 1109. 1109 (calls from Greece, a Greek phone call provider, free local call charge, 24/7 and confidential anonymously) 0030-2310019880 (calls from abroad free a foreign phone call provider, the cost depends on the provider's price list for Greece, 24/7 and confidential anonymously)
116111 European Helpline for Children and Adolescents
The European Helpline for Children and Adolescents provides psychological support for free to children and adolescents. The service helps children in need of care and protection and links them to services and resources. The helpline operates on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year. Calls to the helpline are free of charge.
France: Coordination du Dispositif National Ac.Sé
Please click on the options below for information about support organisations in other countries across Europe.
You can also vist the European Freedom Network for a list of all anti-trafficking hotlines in Europe.
National Intervention & Consultation Centre for Victims of Trafficking
+48 22 628 01 20
La Strada Poland
Foundation against Trafficking in Human Beings and Slavery
+48 22 628 99 99 (help and advice)
La Strada – Foundation against Trafficking in Human Beings and Slavery , PO Box 5 , EN 00 – 956 Warsaw 10
Salvation Army Poland
Hotline Against Human Trafficking
0800 800 678
Adpare
La Strada International – European NGO Platform against trafficking in human beings
Romanian national (governmental) Hotline against Human Trafficking
eLiberare
National Helpline for Victims of Trafficking
0800 800 818
Slovenská katolícka charita
Tel: 02/5443 15 06
Mobile: 0910 842 667
La Strada Moldova
National: 0800 77777
International: +373 22 23 33 09
CP 259, Chisinau MD-2012, Republic of Moldova
http://lastrada.md/rom/contacte-12
The anti-trafficking hotline in Transdniestria is managed by NGO “Interaction”
0800 88888
+373 533 86030 (International)
Crisis Management and Information Hotline
In Hungary: 06 80 20 55 20 (anti-trafficking hotline)
Abroad: +36 80/20-55-20
Hungarian Baptist Aid
Hungarian Baptist Aid provides regular relief assistance, by providing humanitarian aid as well as emotional and psychological support.
Baptista Szeretetszolgálat Alapítvány, Pf. 241, Budapest 1391
KOK – Network against Trafficking in Human Beings
The centres of specialised counselling in Germany are NGO´s which offer advice, ensure counselling through coordinated operations and support for the victims of trafficking in human beings.
08000 116 016 (only accessible from within Germany)
Lützowstr.102-104 Hof 1, Aufgang A 10785 Berlin
Helpline for Violence Against Women (Hilfetelefon Gewalt gegen Frauen): 08000 116 016 (only working from within Germany so no country code needed)
As Germany is a federal system all contact details of the organisation close to a person potentially affected by trafficking are obtained here.
Anti-trafficking hotline (national)
80 00 20 12 Hotline Drosa Maja
+371 286 12120 (24/7)
Salvation Army/ Pestīšanas Armija
Offering help and support to people in different hardships in life.
Bruninieku iela 10a Riga LV-1001 Latvija
https://pestisanasarmija.lv/en/social-services/
Caritas Latvija
Relief Organisation – working with migrants and refugees
La Strada Ukraine
Ukraine, 03113, Kyiv – 113, PO Box 26Tel./fax: +380 44 205 36 95
www.facebook.com/lastradaukraine
Helpline:
National Toll Free Hot Line on prevention domestic violence, human trafficking and gender based discrimination.
Works 24/7 by calling 0 800 500 335 (from landlines) or 116 123 (from mobile)
Calls are free, anonymous, confidential.
Consultations also available via:
- Skype –lastrada-ukraine
- Facebook – @lastradaukraine
- Telegram – @NHL116123
- E-mail – [email protected]
The Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline
The modern slavery and exploitation helpline provides information, advice, and guidance about any modern slavery issue relating to potential victims, businesses, and the public in the whole of the UK. We are free, confidential, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and available in 200 languages.
08000 121 700
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army provides specialist support for all adult victims of modern slavery in England and Wales. They run a confidential referral helpline 0800 808 3733 which is available 24/7.
KOPZI – The centre against trafficking and exploitation, Lithuania
KOPZI provides assistance to victims of sexual abuse and / or various forms of human trafficking in Lithuania and abroad.
http://anti-trafficking.lt/page/apie-mus
+370 679 61617
The 1109 National Human Trafficking Hotline
The hotline is available to answer all urgent calls related to human trafficking from anywhere in the country, 24/7, anonymously and with the ability for translation in over 200 languages. To call from Greece a Greek phone call provider dial 1109. 1109 (calls from Greece, a Greek phone call provider, free local call charge, 24/7 and confidential anonymously) 0030-2310019880 (calls from abroad free a foreign phone call provider, the cost depends on the provider’s price list for Greece, 24/7 and confidential anonymously)
La Strada Czech Republic
Contact Number (including country code): (+420) 222 71 71 71, 800 077 777
Download The STOP APP
Share your story or what you have seen.
Be careful because there is misinformation being shared. You have the power to report what you see or experience using the STOP APP anonymously.
If anyone is in immediate danger, or a crime is being or has been committed, call the emergency services.
Information about human trafficking
Click on the subjects below to find out more
Human trafficking is the movement or recruitment of people, either through deception, coercion, or force for the purpose of exploitation. Traffickers often profit financially from exploiting people. People on the move from a conflict can be vulnerable.
There are many ways people might be lured and trapped into exploitation, including:
Refugees are often offered help with travel and accommodation in exchange for payment later. Do not agree unless you know all the details. This is a method traffickers use to control and exploit people and an example of debt bondage.
It is very important that whatever choice you make, you ensure you put your safety as a top priority.
A trafficker could be anybody. They can be any age, gender or nationality.
Most people want to help refugees, but there may be some who shouldn’t be trusted.
Traffickers often force people into doing things they don’t want to do. They will pressure and force people to stay in the situation using threats and intimidation.
Control methods include:
If you have found yourself in a situation you want to escape, there are organisations that can help you.