Bosnia y Herzegovina - 700 workers from the Balkans exploited in Azerbaijan (2010)

In October 2009, a case of exploitation of more than 700 workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Moldova and Pakistan in the Republic of Azerbaijan became public. The workers had been recruited by the SerbAz company. Due to its size and the number of exploited persons, this is one of the largest registered labour trafficking cases in this region. According to the testimonies of workers who returned, apart from not being paid for their work, they suffered severe physical and psychological violence on construction sites in this country. Trade unions, NGOs, international organisations and embassies were involved in the repatriation process and provision of assistance to these workers. This case should go to court in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2010.