On 15 July, the Project HOST – Tackling Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Sector was launched in Athens, Greece. This EU (AMIF)-funded 24 months project coordinated by the Greek organisation KMOP will focus on trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation in the hospitality sector in 5 EU countries: Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, the Netherlands, and in EU more broadly.
The hospitality sector includes all the economic activities that directly or indirectly contribute to, or depend upon, travel, tourism, and hospitality, including hotels & resorts, restaurants & catering, night clubs & bars. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the hospitality sector is linked to significant forced labour risks, with the ILO estimating that 32% of forced labour cases sit within the “services” category, which includes hospitality. Much of the hospitality sector relies on the outsourcing of services, such as cleaning, maintenance, and security. Workers who are recruited by outsourcing methods, such as through subcontractors or third-party labour suppliers, often lack social protections and face wage discrimination, as well as exacerbating forced labour risks.
The project will focus on the prevention of sexual and labour exploitation of TCNs in the hospitality sector, especially in highly touristic areas, in particular by raising awareness among employers and TCNs on human trafficking, strengthening the multi-stakeholder collaboration, next to enhancing the capacities of the Municipalities to early identify human trafficking cases within the sector, the provision of legal counselling and referral to assistance and support. The project further focuses on sharing good practices and lessons learned in order to enhance the project’s EU added value and the transferability of the intervention.