Ukrainian refugees can be exploited
– We know that criminal actors today visit emergency accommodation and reception centers for refugees to recruit labor and expose them to gross exploitation, extort money from them and inflict loans on them through ID theft, writes Lars Mamen, general manager of Fair Play Bygg Oslo and environs, to the police.
He points out that today there is a great demand for labor, and believes that the Ukrainians who now come to Norway are particularly vulnerable. The Ukrainians have received «Temporary collective protection» all over Europe.
According to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), a total of 1379 Ukrainian asylum seekers were registered in Norway on 10 March.
609 people now live at the Arrival Center at Råde in Viken (Østfold). While ekstra740 is housed at Scandic Hotell in Helsfyr, which is a temporary relief reception for Ankomstsenter Råde.
Fair Play Bygg collects information about work-related crime, ensures its quality and forwards it to public agencies and the so-called Akrim centers. The trade union movement and the employers are jointly behind Fair Play Bygg.
Mamen believes it is important to gain control of the transport of Ukrainians to Norway, so that it is not open to people with dishonest intentions.
– We have recently sent several reports on people who have the capacity to recruit, transport and utilize workers from Poland and other countries in Eastern Europe. Many of these are exploited at work and exposed to wage theft, ID theft, poor living conditions and dangerous work, says Mamen.
He adds that some environments exploit workers in such a way that it must be characterized as forced labor.
Poland and Romania
– Some of these environments recruit from Poland and Romania. In both of these countries, there are already a number of Ukrainian workers who are willing to work with low wages and poor conditions, he continues.
Mamen believes that a number of Ukrainian workers who already work in countries such as Poland and Moldova will now seek happiness in Norway. He asks the police to be aware that these can also be exploited.
– It is likely that some of the criminal circles will try to recruit the refugees as labor. Some of these environments also engage in other types of crime, including smuggling. These environments will, under the guise of pretending to be “helpers”, have the capacity to recruit and transport refugees to Norway.
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) says they are aware of the danger of work-related crime.
– We are aware that the reception centers can be used for recruitment for work-related crime. Those who are employed in our receptions are trained in the problem, and in identifying vulnerable people and situations, including various previous ones for recruitment, says Gro Anna Persheim, Head of Reception and Return, UDI.
She adds:
Reception should be a safe place to live. We have local cooperation with the police who are responsible for fighting crime, and we inform about what is law and what is not.
– Works for the Oslo model
Mamen believes that the municipalities that eventually settle the refugees must be aware of the danger of work-related crime, and take preventive measures.
Finansbyråd Einar Wilhelmsen answers on behalf of Oslo Municipality:
– Yes, this is a known issue, which is further raised now when so many end up in an uncertain and vulnerable position. Precisely for this reason, the City of Oslo requires fast employment, collective pay and demands for the use of skilled workers in all our contracts.
He points out that the municipality is working to ensure that the so-called Oslo model, which sets requirements for its own suppliers, becomes standard. The Oslo model includes, among other things, requirements for fast employees, skilled workers, learning, salaries between assignments and a limit on the number of subcontractors.
– In this way, it can become increasingly difficult for useless actors to exploit people in a very vulnerable situation. Then it is important that the authorities follow up with controls, says Wilhelmsen.
More politicians
On Friday, the Police Directorate at the Police Immigration Unit announced forces with 161 positions to handle a large number of refugees from Ukraine. Some of the positions are reassignments in the Police. 50 of the police officers come from the Eastern police district and will be linked to the reception center in Råde.
The municipalities announced the same day that they can settle a total of 22,000 refugees, writes NTB
– Ukrainian refugees who have a place to live, for example with friends, family or other network, can stay there until we post other information. They do not have to go to the National Arrival Center to register now. This applies regardless of whether they have a biometric passport or other ID documents. Those who do not have a place to contact the police, who will arrange transport to the National Arrival Center to register, says Persheim in the UDI.