Thursday, 16 October 2025
Czech authorities are stepping up efforts to address a growing number of cases involving forced labour and human exploitation. Investigators from the National Headquarters Against Organized Crime (NCOZ) report that both foreign workers and vulnerable Czech citizens are increasingly being drawn into exploitative work arrangements resembling modern slavery.
According to senior officials, offenders often avoid direct violence, instead maintaining control through debt, withheld wages, or the confiscation of personal documents. Many victims live in employer-provided accommodation and depend entirely on their exploiters for food and basic needs. Such dependency, combined with a lack of awareness of rights, makes it difficult for victims to seek help.
The problem is particularly visible in construction, agriculture, cleaning services, and domestic work, where informal recruitment agencies and intermediaries operate in low-regulation environments. Victims are frequently promised legal employment but end up working long hours for little or no pay. Some are citizens living in poverty, while others are foreign workers from Ukraine, Romania, or Bulgaria who are deceived or pressured into illegal arrangements after arrival.
Police statistics record only a few dozen confirmed cases each year, but investigators believe the true scale is much larger. Each major investigation typically involves several perpetrators and dozens of victims. Experts say that while the Czech Republic’s laws prohibit human trafficking and forced labour, enforcement remains difficult because many victims are afraid to report abuse or do not recognize themselves as being exploited.
To increase awareness, the NCOZ has launched a new information campaign titled “Work in Chains.” The initiative aims to help the public and potential victims identify signs of forced labour and know where to seek assistance. Educational videos, produced in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and the NGO La Strada Czech Republic, are available in several languages including Czech, English, Ukrainian, Romanian, Bulgarian, and Russian.
La Strada will act as a partner organization, offering confidential support and a 24-hour helpline for victims. The campaign also includes training for police officers, social workers, and municipal staff to better recognize cases of labour exploitation during inspections and routine contact with the public.
Czechia remains both a destination and transit country for exploited labour. International studies, including the Global Slavery Index, estimate that tens of thousands of people in the country may be working under coercive or exploitative conditions. The Council of Europe’s GRETA monitoring body has urged stronger prevention and better victim identification, noting that most detected cases involve foreign nationals in low-wage sectors.
NCOZ Director Jiří Mazánek said that the campaign’s purpose is not only to inform but also to build trust. Many victims, particularly from abroad, hesitate to approach the police due to experiences of corruption or indifference in their home countries. “We want to show people that they can turn to Czech officials directly and receive help without fear,” he said.
The police emphasize that forced labour does not always involve physical abuse. It often hides behind everyday workplaces—on construction sites, in kitchens, or in private homes—where people may appear to work voluntarily but in reality have no freedom to leave. Through its new campaign, law enforcement hopes to make those invisible forms of exploitation visible.
