Polish police and expert organizations are sounding the alarm over the growing scale of labor exploitation affecting migrants seeking work abroad. Throughout 2025, Polish law enforcement authorities identified 194 victims of human trafficking within the country, while local prosecutors initiated 78 criminal proceedings regarding these facts. These alarming figures highlight that the issue remains critically relevant, requiring utmost attention from both state institutions and job seekers themselves.
The scale of the problem in Poland and the European Union
Official Polish government documents, specifically the National Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings for 2025–2027, explicitly state that forced labor has remained the dominant form of human trafficking crimes in the country for several years. With a continuous influx of migrants, the demand for workers in agriculture, construction, and seasonal industries increases, which automatically heightens the risks of abuse by unscrupulous employers.
The scale of the crisis is also confirmed by pan-European data. According to Eurostat statistics released in 2026, 9,678 victims of human trafficking were registered across European Union member states in 2024. Among those whose form of exploitation was determined, 3,391 individuals (or 37%) became victims of forced labor. Experts point to a long-term trend: while the share of such crimes ranged between 14% and 21% from 2008 to 2018, it has consistently exceeded 28% since 2019, reaching as high as 41% in certain periods. At the same time, European statistics reflect only the portion of offenses that were officially uncovered and recorded by law enforcement.
Recruitment mechanisms and methods of control over workers
Modern human trafficking does not always start with a violent abduction or physical detention of a person. As experts from the Gremi Personal agency note, the trap is frequently disguised as a completely standard and attractive employment offer. Recruiters actively utilize the internet, social media, and messengers, promising gullible job seekers high salaries, comfortable housing, and relocation assistance. However, upon arrival at the destination, reality turns out to be entirely different: working conditions change dramatically, and promised payments are delayed or withheld altogether.
To maintain control over people, malicious actors employ an array of illegal control tools. These include confiscating passports and other documents, direct threats, restricting freedom of movement, physical isolation, and the artificial imposition of debts. Such disturbing signs indicate far more than a simple violation of labor legislation; they point to full-scale criminal activity associated with human trafficking and severe labor exploitation.
How to protect yourself when looking for a job abroad
The primary rule for anyone planning employment abroad is to thoroughly check not only the job vacancy itself, but also the reputation of the intermediary. In Poland, the legal status of any employment agency can be verified through the official state register Krajowy Rejestr Agencji Zatrudnienia (KRAZ), which operates within the STOR system. By using the company's name, registration number, or tax identifier NIP, any citizen can verify whether the company holds a valid license and legal grounds to conduct operations.
Experts remind us that verifying a potential employer or recruitment agency before traveling abroad serves as a critically important barrier against fraudsters. Given that Ukrainian citizens, driven by security concerns and economic hardships, increasingly choose short-term employment trips to Poland, vigilance and adherence to basic safety rules remain the best protection against falling into dangerous criminal schemes.
