Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD), Berlin Senator for Cansel Kiziltepe (3rd from right, SPD), Berlin Senator for Labor, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination, together with Michael Unglaube (l-r), Main Customs Office, representative of the Joint Investigation Group on Labor Exploitation (GEA), Gregor Ott, Deputy Director General of the Berlin Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and Michael Unglaube (l-r), representative of the Joint Investigation Group on Labor Exploitation (GEA). Department Head at the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), Stefan Strauß, Press Spokesman, Peter Hermanns, Internationaler Bund (IB) - provider of the shelter, and Henning Kruse, Berlin Counselling Center for Migration and Good Work (BEMA), at the press conference for the opening of a shelter for victims of labour exploitation and human trafficking.
© dpa
Since January, Berlin has had a special shelter for victims of exploitation and human trafficking.
This is a safe and anonymous point of contact for those affected, said Social Affairs Senator Cansel Kiziltepe at the presentation of the project. Labor exploitation is often a hidden but widespread form of exploitation. "We show the people affected that they are not alone."
Those affected are often exploited in their need and have to work under miserable conditions. According to the Senate Department for Labor and Social Affairs, labor exploitation exists in many areas, from construction and agriculture to home care and catering. People with a history of migration or flight are particularly at risk. So far, there has been a lack of safe accommodation for those affected after illegal employment has ended and perpetrators have been identified.
Those affected are often under considerable psychological strain, often associated with anxiety or depression, said Peter Hermanns, spokesperson for the Internationaler Bund (IB) Berlin-Brandenburg, a social work organization. The shelter is a safe retreat and is intended to open up new perspectives for people. The IB offers professional social and psychological counseling together with the Berlin Counseling Center for Migration and Good Work (Bema). The project is fully financed by the social administration with 450,000 euros per year. A total of ten accommodation places are available there; one place is currently occupied, it is said. The address of the shelter is not published for security reasons. According to Kiziltepe, Berlin is the first federal state to offer such a shelter.
According to Police Commissioner Barbara Slowik Meisel, it is a recurring problem that the people concerned are often not willing to make statements to the police and customs authorities, or are only willing to do so for a short period of time. "This is because the perpetrators usually come from private social circles and regularly try to put their victims under pressure and influence them in their favor during the investigation proceedings." Slowik Meisel therefore described the safe house as an "absolute benefit" for the investigative work of customs and the police.