Not vulnerable enough for victim support?! Advancing the formal identification of human trafficking for labour exploitation through a multidimensional vulnerability approach

The formal identification of presumed victims of human trafficking for labour exploitation remains a complex and contested process, shaped by both international and European legal frameworks. This article critically examines the definitions of trafficking, slavery, and forced labour, thereby exploring the fluidity of labour exploitation and the limitations inherent in differentiating between various forms of exploitation within the identification process. While legal systems and frameworks often attempt to create clear distinctions, the practical reality of victim identification demonstrates that such demarcations are not always possible. Moreover, the threshold for victim support in comparison to criminal proceedings needs to be approached within a human rights and victim-centred framework. We therefore expand the analysis of human trafficking for labour exploitation by integrating theoretical approaches of vulnerability and propose a conceptual model that integrates a multidimensional vulnerability framework. The model offers a dual contribution: first, it can enhance both policy implementation and victim identification, serving as a foundational basis for policy development; second, we propose it as an analytical tool for future research on human trafficking and labour exploitation.