Broken Illusions: A Ukrainian Woman's Struggle with Labour Exploitation Abroad

"A work shift could last twenty hours a day. If you didn't show up or didn't finish your work, you were fined. You had to ask permission to go to the bathroom, it was shameful... It was out of the question to take a break for even five minutes," Alina* recalls her experience of employment abroad. 

On the eve of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Alina found herself in a difficult situation. Recently divorced, unemployed and caring for her five-year-old son and younger sister — whom she became the guardian of after their mother's passing — she heard about a job in Poland from a friend. She decided to go for three months to earn money for her family. However, the job conditions were not at all what was originally promised. 

"It was very difficult. They insisted that I give them my documents, but I refused. I had heard stories of people who could not return home because their passports were taken. My job was to disassemble and pack parcels. But sometimes I was physically unable to lift the weight. The attitude towards the workers was terrible," Alina recalls.  

One day, she had a toothache. No one gave her a sick leave, and she was fined a substantial sum for missing work because she was at the doctor's. Eventually, Alina realized that she would not earn the money she had hoped for and would only lose her health, so she decided to return to Ukraine. She informed the company of her departure in advance to avoid additional fines, but the money was still deducted from her paycheck.  

Eventually, Alina was able to return home to Ukraine. A friend told her about the International Organization for Migration's assistance for survivors of human trafficking. He called the 527 hotline for her, which referred Alina to IOM Protection Programme.   

"I realized that it was not normal, and it should not be like this. When you are not allowed to go to the toilet or are forced to hand over your phone and documents for the duration of your shift, isn't this some kind of slavery? People don't go abroad because of a good life, and they endure terrible working conditions because they really need money. But no one has the right to treat them this way," says Alina.   

She eventually found a job in her home village. Although the salary is low, she is close to her children, at home and feels at peace. After two months of hard work in Poland, she injured her back, so IOM funded a medical examination for her. Thanks to IOM, Alina also decided to learn a new profession and train as a masseuse. In July this year, she completed a course and purchased a massage table.   

"I want to earn more in Ukraine, support the economy and be with my family. There may be more opportunities abroad, especially now during the war, but the risks are high. It seems to me that the situation has worsened, as many agencies offer jobs abroad with unrealistic salaries. But I won't accept such offers anymore," says Alina. 

What Alina went through is likely being experienced by others who, due to difficult life circumstances, accepted risky offers of work or accommodation abroad to earn money or simply survive. Instead, they find themselves in situations of labour and sexual exploitation, forced begging, and more. However, you can avoid such situations by taking the following precautions: thoroughly check information about job vacancies and employers, be cautious of offers with unrealistically high salaries and unofficial employment, and choose only trusted companies and agencies. These safety rules are worth knowing and following not only when looking for a job abroad but also within the country. According to IOM research, cases of human trafficking and exploitation in Ukraine are becoming more frequent, with 121 cases reported in the first half of 2024 alone. 

During this period, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ukraine identified and assisted 186 survivors of human trafficking, with 73% experiencing labour exploitation. Another 304 people suffered from labour exploitation without signs of trafficking. Unfortunately, not all survivors report their situations to the police or other services and organizations. 

"Not all survivors of human trafficking are aware that what they’ve experienced is a violation of their rights. Some are afraid of retaliation from perpetrators, some may be ashamed or embarrassed to share it with others, some do not believe that the perpetrators can be brought to justice or simply do not know that there are organizations like IOM that help in such situations," says Anna Cherniavska, IOM Protection Specialist.   

IOM's team continues to work proactively every day, not only to support those who have already experienced exploitation but also to prevent new cases. 

IOM, with the support of international partners like the United States Agency for International Development and the Swedish government, regularly runs anti-trafficking information campaigns. With the help of volunteers and partner organizations in Ukraine, IOM also distributes information materials and videos on the types of modern slavery and how to protect yourself. Learn more at www.stoptrafficking.org. 

If you or someone you know is in a situation of exploitation or trafficking, please report it to the national hotline for combating human trafficking and counselling migrants 527 (free and confidential, daily from 8:00 to 20:00) or fill out the IOM online assistance form at https://stoptrafficking.org/#survey-form.  

This is exactly what Alina's friend did when he learned about her case. As a result, she received the support she needed and changed her life for the better.  

* Alina's name and personal information have been changed for security reasons.