By Natalija Zverko, Aleksandr Dvojeglazov, LRT.lt.

While cases of human trafficking for prostitution or drug smuggling have declined in Lithuania, authorities say they are facing a rapid increase in forced labour cases, with foreign workers the main victims.

“This is a new trend,” Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė told LRT RADIO. “The number of pretrial investigations is growing, and we must remember that just a few years ago, our Criminal Code did not even have a relevant article.”

According to prosecutors, 22 investigations into human trafficking are currently underway, 10 of which directly involve forced labour. More than 100 victims and 75 suspects have already been identified.

Some lawyers question whether all the cases can be described as trafficking. Attorney Girijus Ivoška argues that the term fits mass recruitment and coercion resembling slavery but is less accurate for wage disputes.

“Often we are talking about unpaid salaries rather than trafficking in the full sense,” he said.

More read: LRT.LT