Georgi Petrunov – University of National and World Economy, boul. 8th December, Sofia, Bulgaria

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/ITEMA.2019.7

 

3rd International Scientific Conference on Recent Advances in Information Technology, Tourism, Economics, Management and Agriculture – ITEMA 2019 – Bratislava, Slovakia, October 24, 2019, CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS published by the Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans, Belgrade; Printed by: SKRIPTA International, Belgrade, ISBN 978-86-80194-23-3, ISSN 2683-5991, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/ITEMA.2019

 

 

Abstract

Economic migration from the post-socialist countries to the countries of Western Europe continues to be a highly dynamic process, with large migration flows marking the second decade of the 21st century. Bulgaria is no exception to this trend: thousands of Bulgarians each year migrate to Western European countries. In search of well-paying jobs and a better life, some of them find themselves trapped in trafficking schemes and fall victim to the modern form of slavery. This report explores trafficking in human beings from Bulgaria to Western Europe, and in particular trafficking for the purpose of labor exploitation. The research methods used include court case analysis and in-depth interviews with prosecutors, investigators, police officers, NGO representatives and victims of trafficking. The report examines the main reasons for involvement in labor trafficking, typical trafficking practices, recruitment methods, and the various forms and economic sectors in which the victims are exploited. Among the key factors for migration and labor trafficking the research highlights weak and slow economic development, high levels of poverty and social exclusion coupled with the marginalization of social groups, lack of adequate work and job insecurity, and high levels of crime.

 

Key words

Economic disparities, Crime, Exploitation


References

Barner, J., Okech, D., & Camp, M. (2014). Socio-economic inequality, human trafficking, and
the global slave trade. Societies, 4, 148–160; https://doi:10.3390/soc4020148.
Bezlov, T., Gounev, P., Petrunov, G., Tzenkov, E., & Tzvetkova, M. (2007). Organized crime in
Bulgaria: Markets and trends. Sofia: Center for the Study of Democracy.
Cho, S.Y. (2015). Modeling for Determinants of Human Trafficking: An Empirical Analysis.
Social Inclusion, 3, 2-21 (Special Issue „Perspectives on Human Trafficking and Modern
Forms of Slavery”). http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2117838.

Europol. (2016). Trafficking in human beings in the EU. Hague: Europol Public Information.
Jac-Kucharski, A. (2012). The Determinants of Human Trafficking: A US Case Study. International
migration, 50(6), 150-165. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2435.2012.00777.
Jeliazkova, М. (2011). Inequality and policies. Trojan: Alja (in Bulgarian).
Jeliazkova, M., Minev, D., Draganov, Dr., Krasteva, V. & Stoilov, A. (2018). Youth employment
policies in Bulgaria. Tallinn: Tallinn University. Retrieved from: http://www.except-project.
eu/working-papers/.
Krasteva, А. (2014). From migration to mobility: Policies and routes. Sofia: New Bulgarian
University Publishing House (in Bulgarian).
Mahmoud, T.O., & Trebesch, C. (2010). The economics of human trafficking and labour migration:
Micro-evidence from Eastern Europe. Journal of Comparative Economics, 38(2),
173–88. https://doi:10.1016/j.jce.2010.02.001.
Manning, P. (2013). Migration in world history. Abingdon: Routledge.
Mansoor, A., & Quillin, B. (2006). Migration and Remittances: Eastern Europe and the Former
Soviet Union. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Mattar, M. (2009). Trafficking in persons: Global overview, current trends, and pathways forward.
Washington, DC: John Hopkins University.
Ministry of finance. (2018). Data provided by Ministry of finance in response to a question from
the Member of Parliament Jelio Boichev. Retrieved from: https://www.parliament.bg/pub/
PK/318729854-06-1098.pdf.
Mo, C.H. (2018). Perceived relative deprivation and risk: An aspiration-based model of human
trafficking vulnerability. Political behavior, 40(1), 247-277. https://doi:10.1007/s11109-017-
9401-0.
Moch, L. P. (2013). Lessons and cautionary tales from the past: Building bridges from migration
history to Europeanness. National Identities, 15(1), 9-19. https://doi:10.1080/14608944.201
2.733151.
Petrunov, G. (2014). Human trafficking in Eastern Europe: The case of Bulgaria. The Annals
of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 653(1), 162-182. https://
doi:10.1177/0002716214521556.
Sassen, S. (2002). Women`s burden: Counter-geographies of globalization and the feminization
of survival. Nordic Journal of International Law, 71(2):255-274. https://
doi:10.1163/157181002761931378.
Shelley, L. (2010). Human trafficking: A global perspective. New York: Cambridge University
Press;
Stoilova, R. & Dimitrova, E. (2017). Emigration from the Perspective of School to Work Transition
in Bulgaria. Czech Sociological Review, 53(6), 903-933. https://doi:10.13060/00380
288.2017.53.6.380
United Nations. (2019). Workbook: UN Migrant stock total 2019. United Nations, Department
of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/
en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates19.asp
UNODC. (2018). Global report on trafficking in persons 2018. New York: United Nations.

 

Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans – UdEkoM Balkan
179 Ustanicka St, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia

ITEMA conference publications are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.