Malta
Trafficking in Human Beings (THB)

U.S. Department of State

Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report)
Malta: Tier 2

The Government of Malta does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period; therefore Malta remained on Tier 2. These efforts included prosecuting more traffickers, hiring a social worker dedicated to trafficking victims, removing all residency and work permit fees for foreign victims of trafficking, and for the first time, identifying and referring a child victim to care. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. It has only convicted one trafficker since 2012, which resulted in a fully suspended prison sentence, identified fewer victims, continued to lack coordination among ministries, and did not effectively control licensing for massage parlors, where there was a high vulnerability for sex trafficking.
> state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report-2/malta/