The action "Prevention and combating trafficking in human beings" and its grantee NGO ASTRA held the final event of the campaign “LABOUR RIGHTS - NOW! Awareness is the first step towards protecting your rights” on 9 October. The campaign was aimed at informing people at risk about how to recognise traps of traffickers for the purpose of labour exploitation and get assistance, and about their rights.

The closing event assessed the results of the 3-month campaign. Thousand of leaflets have been distributed to workers on six construction sites in Kragujevac, Nis, Cacak, Pozega, Zajecar and Belgrade and to young people in 26 high schools across Serbia. Foreign workers received materials in English. Almost 100 posts were shared on social networks with more than 230 000 views.

“It is important to mention that this campaign took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the economic crisis, vulnerability to human trafficking has increased. While trips abroad to look for work and calls to the SOS line to check job advertisements decreased, we have noticed an increase of calls (over 70%) related to checking job offers within the borders of Serbia,” said Hristina Piskulidis, communication manager of the NGO ASTRA.

The final product of the campaign is a publication with recommendations for the prevention of labour exploitation, that considers the labour legislation and the current trends of the Serbian labour market.

The action on „Preventing and combating trafficking in human beings in Serbia“ is implemented under the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme „Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022“.

 Recommendations for prevention of labour exploitation (English version)

 Recommendations for prevention of labour exploitation (Serbian version)