The International Labour Organization (ILO) has strengthened labour inspection in Ukraine through a specialized training programme on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), organized in Bratislava in response to the growing risks of labour exploitation caused by large-scale displacement following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Hosted by the European Labour Authority (ELA) and delivered by I-INTELLIGENCE and the ILO in cooperation with ELA, the training aimed to help labour inspectors better detect and respond to labour rights violations affecting vulnerable populations.
The programme introduced practical, intelligence-led approaches that enable labour inspectors to analyse publicly available information, including online sources, to identify risks such as undeclared work, unsafe working conditions, and other labour law violations. By promoting a more proactive and evidence-based inspection model, the training is expected to improve the ability of authorities to prevent exploitation, especially among displaced people who face heightened vulnerability in the labour market.
As Ukraine continues to deal with the effects of displacement and changing labour migration trends, strengthening the capacity of the State Labour Service remains essential. The training supports the development of its analytical capabilities, helping inspectors detect labour law violations more systematically, including those affecting internally displaced persons. It also reinforces cooperation with labour inspectorates across European Union member states and contributes to Ukraine’s broader efforts to align its labour policies and enforcement systems with EU standards as part of the country’s recovery process.
The initiative is being implemented by the ILO in partnership with the European Labour Authority and with financial support from the Government of Belgium under the project focused on preventing labour exploitation and human trafficking, while also supporting entrepreneurship development and social dialogue in Ukraine.
