Exploitation and situations of vulnerability of migrant workers in Europe: Legal and policy responses and challenges

Diverse labour sectors in Europe rely on migrant labour that is diversified by nationality, gender, and legal administrative status. Migrant workers are frequently subjected to severely exploitative conditions, ranging from contract violations to cases of severe abuse and trafficking. This occurs especially in core sectors such as agriculture, domestic work, and construction that are characterised by isolation, invisibility, dependency on employers, and the highest rates of irregular employment. Focussing on agriculture, this chapter critically compares migration and labour mobility regimes in Europe (in particular, Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands), investigating the impact of relevant legal and policy frameworks in contributing to dynamics of exploitation and abuse. The chapter also examines the diverse national responses to address labour exploitation during the Covid-19 pandemic, exploring to what extent the pandemic provided an effective opportunity to enforce labour rights and strengthen the rights of migrants.