There were 96 known cases of human trafficking in 2018 and 2019, with the majority of victims found working in the hospitality sector, information tabled in Parliament shows.

The data was tabled by Social Solidarity Minister Michael Falzon in reply to a Parliamentary Question by PN MP Claudette Buttigieg.

Falzon said there were 48 cases in 2018 and 48 in 2019.

In 2018, 29 of the trafficked persons were women and 19 were men.

The majority of cases - 28 - came from the hospitality sector. 7 were working in the catering industry, 6 in the manufacturing industry and 2 were in the healthcare industry, of which one was a carer. Two victims were working in private homes and another two were working in the retail sector. One case was connected to a massage parlour. There were no cases related to construction or prostitution.

The breakdown of victims in 2019 was 29 women and 19 men.

21 were working in the hospitality sector and 7 were I the catering sector. Seven people were found to be working in the healthcare sector, of which six were carers.

6 were working in the manufacturing sector, 1 in the construction industry, 1 case was related to a massage parlour, 3 victims were working in private homes, and 2 in the retail sector. Again, there were no cases related to prositution.