BiH authorities identify 11 people as potential victims of labour exploitation

The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Service for Foreigners' Affairs serving as co-leader. Support was provided by the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), the competent cantonal interior ministries, labour inspectorates and occupational safety inspectorates.

The activities focused on detecting the illegal employment of foreign nationals, identifying indicators of possible labour exploitation and human trafficking, and uncovering other violations of regulations governing the entry, residence and employment of foreign nationals in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Each participating authority took appropriate measures within its legally defined remit.

This ensured a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to detecting illegal employment, potential forms of labour exploitation and human trafficking.

A total of 40 foreign national inspectors took part in the operation, during which 34 locations, 643 people and 643 documents were checked. Inspections covered construction companies and sites, wind farms, restaurants, bakeries, production facilities and accommodation used by foreign nationals.

As part of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs' proceedings, 21 measures were imposed on foreign nationals found to have violated regulations: six cancellations of visa-free stays, 10 cancellations of visa-free stays accompanied by expulsion, and five expulsion measures.

In cases where irregularities were identified, appropriate misdemeanour proceedings were also initiated against foreign nationals and legal entities in accordance with applicable regulations.

Particular attention was paid to verifying the legality of foreign nationals' residence and employment, as well as identifying circumstances that could indicate labour exploitation and human trafficking for labour exploitation. During the operation, circumstances indicating possible elements of human trafficking for labour exploitation were identified in the cases of 11 people, primarily in the construction sector.

Further action concerning these individuals is being taken by the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), which, under the supervision of the competent prosecutor’s office, is conducting investigative measures to determine whether there are grounds to suspect the criminal offence of human trafficking for labour exploitation.