Same-same or different? Nordic policy responses to the exploitation of migrant workers

Taking a historical perspective, this article compares the four Nordic states of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden with respect to the following question: How have problem representations developed the Nordic region’s policy response to the exploitation of migrant workers? We demonstrate that parallel and competing problem representations, defined in government policy as ‘human trafficking’, ‘forced labour’, ‘work-related crime’ and ‘social dumping’, have emerged and manifested themselves across the Nordic countries. We conclude by reflecting on the consequences of these policy responses to exploited migrant workers and argue that, of the four nation states studied, Finland’s policy response to labour exploitation has been the most comprehensive, since it addresses both the exploitative employer and the victim of exploitation.