The Working Arrangement builds on existing cooperation between Europol and ELA, including their joint involvement in activities under the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). It provides for the exchange of strategic information and the development of further areas of cooperation. The agreement also aims to strengthen cooperation in addressing the cross-border nature of labour exploitation and its links to trafficking in human beings and organised crime.

Labour exploitation can initially appear as a breach of labour law, meaning that indicators of trafficking in human beings and organised crime may remain undetected. Closer cooperation between labour authorities and law enforcement can help bring together relevant information and support the earlier identification of potential victims and criminal networks. The new framework will facilitate such cooperation by strengthening links between Europol, ELA and national labour inspectorates and supporting the exchange of information on labour exploitation and related criminal activity. This information will support law enforcement authorities in identifying the organised crime structures that may be operating behind labour exploitation.

For further information, please consult the articles published by Europol and ELA.