The government increased prevention efforts. The Prime Minister’s Office oversaw the government’s monitoring committee for combating human trafficking, composed of government and civil society. In 2023, the committee assessed implementation of the NAP and national strategy, both of which expired in 2022, and drafted a new, four-year NAP and a new national strategy (2024-2028) for combating human trafficking. Despite the absence of both in 2023, the government continued to carry out its anti-trafficking efforts based on the national strategy to combat organized crime and recommendations of foreign and international partners. According to the government, most agencies did not have a mandate focused exclusively on combating trafficking and, consequently, struggled to disaggregate expenses based on anti-trafficking activities. Thus, the government provided an estimated global figure – 106.2 million RON ($23.6 million) – for its 2023 anti-trafficking funding but did not clarify the expenses covered and whether overhead costs or salaries were included. In 2023, parliament established a special anti-trafficking committee and voted a member of the Roma community as chair; the committee focused on analyzing the causes of human trafficking, assessing the activities of authorities working in the field, and drafting relevant legislation. Throughout the year, the government systematically collected and published data on the prosecution and conviction of traffickers; however, NGOs noted detailed data about traffickers, the socio-demographic profile of victims, and the number of individuals re-victimized (an important indicator for assessing the efficiency of anti-trafficking efforts) were unavailable. As in previous years, ANITP published an annual report with information on trends, statistics, and efforts to combat trafficking and organized several awareness campaigns and educational projects, including raising awareness about online trafficking and reducing stigma and bias toward victims, targeting different social and professional groups. Additionally, ANITP worked with a telecommunications company to develop a mobile application, providing users with information on victimization, ways to protect themselves from traffickers, and contact points for assistance. In 2023, Romanian and UK officials signed a joint action plan on preventing and combating trafficking, including an awareness campaign on trafficking risks targeting vulnerable Romanians in London. In addition, Romania’s diplomatic missions abroad organized meetings with Romanian communities and NGOs and disseminated information about Romania’s anti-trafficking legislation and anti-trafficking efforts to judicial bodies in foreign countries. The government maintained a missing child alert system and a national hotline focused on strengthening the government’s capacity to identify child abuse, including trafficking. ANITP managed a 24-hour hotline and staffed an operator only during regular business hours. The hotline provided services in Romanian and English and primarily focused on informing Romanians about working abroad safely. The hotline received 13 calls that led to criminal investigations (20 in 2022). The government made efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts by investigating three new cases involving individuals suspected of purchasing commercial sex from trafficking victims. In addition, ANITP conducted awareness campaigns focused on reducing demand for commercial sex, including a campaign featuring a trafficking survivor sharing their experiences to help sensitize the public on the plight of exploited persons.
The law prohibited Romania-based recruitment companies from charging recruitment fees and facilitating the exploitation of citizens abroad; violations were considered a misdemeanor and punishable by a civil fine. Romanian law required foreigners with work permits, who worked less than a year for an employer, to obtain a written consent from that employer to change jobs. Romanian law also required employers of foreign workers to submit applications for work permits and the General Inspectorate for Immigration to issue work permits within 30 to 45 days of receiving an application. Before issuing work permits, the inspectorate verified job offers and employers’ profiles to prevent fraud. Observers also reported the government tolerated practices through which employers confiscated foreign workers’ residence permits and travel documents to limit their freedom and facilitate potential deportations. Experts noted a continued lack of awareness about labor trafficking among stakeholders and insufficient attention to identifying cases among labor law violations. According to observers, enforcement remained the biggest hurdle to improved protections for Romanian workers abroad, and, in trafficking cases involving foreign victims, authorities continued to ineffectively implement the law. In 2023, the Labor Inspectorate carried out inspections aimed at identifying illegal work practices, including trafficking, in various at-risk sectors, such as construction and transportation. Throughout 2023, the government conducted multiple awareness campaigns on labor trafficking risks and immigration laws targeting foreigners seeking employment in Romania and Romanians seeking jobs abroad, including one on detecting fraudulent employment practices. Additionally, the government organized a learning session to raise awareness about Romanian employment practices and trafficking among foreign workers with embassy representatives of countries of origin, including Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Morocco, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Also, in 2023, the MOL signed an MOU with its Spanish counterpart, raising awareness about trafficking risks among Romanian workers in Spain and establishing a mechanism to conduct joint inspections and identify vulnerable workers, including trafficking victims. Over the past several years, to overcome labor shortages, the country gradually increased the number of non-EU migrants allowed to work in Romania. In 2023, the government approved an admission quota of 100,000 migrant workers, most of whom worked in the construction and hospitality industries and were at particular risk of trafficking because of the lack of access to information in their native language and deceptive employment practices.
ANDPDCA monitored and coordinated all programs for the prevention and elimination of child labor and investigated child labor abuse reports, some of which may have been forced child labor. The MOL could impose fines and close businesses where it found exploitation of child labor. However, the government did not effectively enforce child labor laws, especially in rural areas and where social welfare services lacked personnel and capacity to address violations. Government efforts focused on reacting to reported cases, and ANDPDCA directed its limited resources to prevention programs. Observers believed incidents of child labor were much higher than official statistics indicated.
Millions of refugees arrived in Romania since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine with approximately 77,000 remaining in country. In response, the government provided generous assistance programs and adopted several measures to combat trafficking, including disseminating information on trafficking indicators to first responders providing assistance to refugees and conducting awareness campaigns in Ukrainian at border crossing points, asylum centers, and accommodation centers. The government also set up and continuously updated an official online platform with all information on the rights and services available to refugees, including information specifically for children and potential trafficking victims. In addition, ANDPDCA continued to register all Ukrainian refugee children in a database developed with UNICEF, which included mandatory child trafficking screenings. In collaboration with UNICEF and UNHCR, the government established Blue Dot Centers – safe centers installed at border crossing points that provided children and families with essential information and services on a range of issues, including education, psycho-social support, referrals to health care, and legal support. To prevent and identify potential trafficking, the Ministry of Interior performed daily safety checks at places of accommodation and inspections at traffic checkpoints. Police and social services utilized formal written procedures to identify trafficking victims among newly arrived Ukrainian refugees. In 2023, authorities identified two refugees from Ukraine as victims of labor trafficking and opened a criminal investigation. Despite all these efforts, budgetary constraints and competing priorities caused the government to delay or suspend assistance programs for refugees since June 2023. UNHCR raised concerns that the government’s decision, coupled with decreasing international donor support, left a growing portion of the 77,000 Ukrainians still in Romania vulnerable to exploitation or considering a return to Ukraine due to their inability to cover housing, food, health, and education expenses.
from 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report – U.S. Department of State
2024 Trafficking in Persons Report – United States Department of State
