EMBRACE: Empowering business communities to prevent labour trafficking

Started September 2025, EMBRACE is a two-year EU-funded initiative that aims to prevent labour trafficking and exploitation by strengthening systemic responses and preventive measures from a business and human rights perspective. The project focuses on high-risk sectors and works across four EU Member States (Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, and Poland) with additional expertise from Finland and the Netherlands.

At its core, EMBRACE develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for businesses, helping them proactively prevent, identify, and respond to labour trafficking in supply chains. Alongside these tools, the project pilots preventive actions, supports civil society organizations in protecting migrants from exploitative recruitment, trains labour inspectors, and raises awareness among the public and migrant communities. An online grievance platform will also empower consumers, workers, and migrants to report suspected cases of trafficking, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the private sector.