Sector of labour exploitation: Domestic work

Victims exploited in domestic work account for around 37 per cent of victims trafficked for forced labour.

Victims exploited in domestic work are mainly females (87%). 27 per cent of these victims are adults between 30 and 38 years old, and another 14 per cent are children. Most of them originate in South-East Asia (47%), West Africa (14%), East Africa (9%), and Eastern Europe (8%).

Victims exploited in domestic work are slightly more frequently trafficked outside their region of origin (58%). They are mainly exploited in North America (39%), West Asia (20%), and South-East Asia (16%).

The main means used to control victims exploited in domestic work include restrictions on finance, movements, medical care, and necessities; and psychological, physical, and sexual abuse, each accounting for around 60 per cent.^[1] 73 per cent of these victims are trafficked by ‘others’,^[2] and some other victims are recruited by family (13%) and friends (11%). They are primarily trafficked for a year or less (44%).

^[1] It is important to note that trafficked persons can be subjected to multiple types of exploitation and means of control, so percentages may not add up to 100.

^[2] Indicates a notable relationship with the recruiter that does not fit other categories like family or friends. This may include brokers, contractors, employers, or smugglers. See the Global Synthetic Dataset Codebook for a detailed explanation.