Forced Labour Case In Reykjavík Under Investigation

A disturbing case of human trafficking, forced labour, and possibly kidnapping is now being investigated by the police.

Stöð 2 reports that the case concerns a woman of foreign origin who was working in a hotel in Reykjavík. None of the parties involved have yet been named, but MBL reports that the hotel in question is Hotel Adam, which has been in considerable trouble with authorities in this past.

According to the case details, the woman was forced to remain in the hotel at all times, with the man in question compelling her to live in his room. She reportedly was paid 60,000 ISK per month for the work, which is a fraction of the legal minimum wage for such work.

Human trafficking has been a growing problem in Iceland. Once considered solely the domain of so-called “champagne clubs”, the survivors are more often than not foreigners. These cases, which have long been a concern amongst labour unions, stretch from everything from the tourism industry to construction.

Workers who are new to the job market, wherever they may hail from, should be sure to inform themselves of their rights and, if an employer will not meet demands to honour those rights, seek recourse from a labour union.