US: Malta's massage parlours show 'huge incidence' of human trafficking signs
A report by the US State Department has sounded a warning on the “huge incidence” of human trafficking indicators in massage parlours dotted around Malta.
In its annual human trafficking report, published earlier this summer, the US said the government did not effectively enforce labour recruitment regulations or monitor massage parlours.
The report urges the government to implement licence controls and oversight of massage parlours and increase screening for human trafficking victims.
It said the authorities should also consider establishing a specialised police unit and specialised prosecutors, dedicated to human trafficking cases. The US said the government persists in its failure to meet minimum standards in several key areas.
Other problems flagged by US
“Perennial issues” with rule of law, corruption, slow court proceedings, and an understaffed police force continued to hamper prosecutions and convictions, with no prosecutions taking place in 2021, the US said.
The report highlighted how the 17-year delay of a trial of a former police officer who accused and admitted to facilitating sex trafficking concluded with an acquittal, and trafficking convictions continue to get...