Luxembourg

By: Kacie Matthews

Country Overview

Luxembourg is one of Western Europe’s most prominent countries in forced cases of labor; worker exploitation. Over the past few years, the numbers towards worker exploitation have increased, and often include threats, and wage theft. Luxembourg’s government has yet to make significant changes.

Statistics

• Main Sectors: Domestic Work, Catering, Construction, and Agriculture

• 2022: 48 exploited women, 2 men

• 2022: 81 exploitations, 25 in labor exploitation

• Over 516,500 migrant workers

Top Countries of Origin

• Syria

• Eritrea 

• Afghanistan

Remittance Data

• Share of GDP: 2%

• Annual Remittance Inflow:  Undisclosed

Legal Gaps

Similar to other Western European countries, migrant workers are more subject towards exploitation due to them not having legal status. When exploitation occurs to migrant workers, most of them don’t report it as it can cause deportation, and abuse from the government towards them. Due to there being no legal status, there are significant obstacles in order to get justice. If workers were to expose their exploitation situation to the government, their job could lower their wage, and create more threats. Along with that, Luxembourg’s labor inspection department falls short as they are underresourced, and understaffed, creating irregular check-ins, and resentment in workers.

NGO & Support Groups

•  Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM)

• Infotraite / SAVTEH (Femmes en détresse asbl)

• Fondation Maison de la Porte Ouverte (FMPO), Maison COTEH

“With my salary I cannot [move out]. [...] They always refuse because I have a salary of 2000 euros. I found a flat that costs 850 euros a month and they said no because they want a salary of at least 2,500 or 2,700 euros" (Carim, Frontiers)

Sources

“Luxembourg - United States Department of State.” United States Department of State, 24 June 2024, www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/luxembourg/.

“Luxembourg GDP per Capita.” World Economics, 2022, www.worldeconomics.com/GrossDomesticProduct/Real-GDP-Per-Capita-PPP/Luxembourg.aspx.

Sommarribas, Adolfo , et al. Illegal Employment of Third-Country Nationals in Luxembourg: 2017-2022 Situation Analysis. University of LuxembourgAdolfo Sommarribas, Ralph, Petry and Zane Rozenberga, 2024.