This is stated in a new report by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), published on June 12.
The document highlights that 935 victims of human trafficking were identified in the country between 2020 and 2025. Labor exploitation remained the most common form of exploitation.
The Council of Europe’s GRETA notes that Moldova continues to improve its legislative and institutional framework for combating human trafficking; however, new developments in the labor market pose additional challenges for the state and the business sector.
The GRETA report covers the period 2020–2025 and assesses the measures taken by the Moldovan authorities to prevent human trafficking, identify and protect victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.
The new evaluation cycle pays particular attention to the role of information and communication technologies in the commission of such crimes and the use of digital tools to prevent them.
Labor exploitation remains the main risk
According to GRETA, 935 victims of human trafficking were identified in Moldova during the period under review. Most of them were Moldovan citizens who were exploited abroad—primarily in European Union countries and Russia.
At the same time, the breakdown of identified cases shows that labor exploitation remains the primary issue, ranking first among forms of exploitation. It is followed by sexual exploitation.
Contrary to the common belief that women are the primary victims of exploitation, the report indicates the opposite: men accounted for 60% of the identified victims, and children for 15%.
For the labor market, this means that risks are associated not only with traditional criminal schemes but also with processes that accompany labor mobility: seeking work abroad, informal employment, insufficient oversight of working conditions, and the vulnerability of certain categories of workers.
Moldova is becoming a destination for criminal activity
One of the report’s key findings is the changing role of Moldova in the regional migration system. This is also noted in the draft National Employment Program, as reported by Logos Press.
While the country was previously viewed primarily as a country of origin for victims of human trafficking, GRETA notes that Moldova is gradually becoming a destination country for such crimes due to the growing number of foreign workers.
This factor is gaining significance against the backdrop of labor market changes: labor shortages in certain economic sectors, increased worker mobility, and the need to strengthen protection mechanisms for both Moldovan citizens working domestically and abroad, as well as foreign workers.
GRETA specifically highlights the impact of digitalization on the field of human trafficking. Experts note that information and communication technologies are used by criminals to recruit and exploit people, while simultaneously creating new opportunities for law enforcement agencies and social services.
The report notes the need to further develop tools for investigating digital crimes, strengthen cooperation with technology companies, and improve the training of specialists handling such cases.
GRETA has highlighted the need for stronger oversight
Despite the progress made, Council of Europe experts note a number of problems.
In particular, GRETA draws attention to the limited capacity of specialists, especially labor inspectors, to identify victims of human trafficking. The organization recommends expanding the capabilities of labor inspectors, improving their training, and removing restrictions on conducting unannounced inspections.
GRETA also notes a decrease in the number of investigations and convictions in human trafficking cases compared to the previous evaluation phase and calls for more effective investigation of such cases.
The growing number of foreign workers and changes in the labor market structure require the state to implement more effective oversight mechanisms, and companies to adopt transparent hiring procedures and comply with labor standards.
More broadly, the report shows that worker protection issues are becoming part of economic policy: as the labor market develops, the importance of oversight, digital tools, and the state’s institutional capacity to respond to new forms of risk is growing.
