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

Abstract
Taking a historical perspective, the article compares the four Nordic nation states of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden with a focus on the following question: How have problem representations developed the Nordic region’s policy response towards the exploitation of migrant workers? This article demonstrates that parallel and competing problem representations phrased as ‘human trafficking’, ‘forced labour’, ‘work-related crime’ and ‘social dumping’ have emerged and manifested themselves across the Nordic nation states. In the conclusion, we reflect on the consequences of these policy responses to exploited migrant workers and argue that out of these four Nordic nation states, Finland has taken the most comprehensive policy response to labour exploitation as it addresses both the exploitative employer and the victim of exploitation.