Icelandic Minister Criticizes Human Trafficking and Exploitation of Workers

The Icelandic Minister of Justice has strongly criticized human trafficking and the exploitation of foreign workers on the Icelandic labor market. Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir emphasized that addressing these issues requires employers to take an active role.

She expressed her dismay upon hearing accounts from workers, who come to Iceland to support the economy. Guðrún believes employers can aid police and authorities by sending clear messages against such exploitation. “They need to stand up and say: we will not tolerate this. There are only a few bad actors among the vast majority of employers,” she stated, referring to those who misuse workers.

Over the past five years, only one indictment related to human trafficking has been issued despite numerous reports. Law enforcement has cited a lack of manpower and financial resources as reasons for their difficulties in addressing this issue.

During her time in office, Guðrún has focused on strengthening law enforcement, as reflected in the budget. However, she noted that police should have the autonomy to decide how to allocate their resources. She is currently in close discussions with the Minister of Social Affairs to explore measures to combat human trafficking and exploitation, particularly in rural areas.

The government plans to assess potential actions to better address these issues moving forward, aiming to protect vulnerable workers and enhance workplace conditions in the country.