Gardaí have warned that staff wearing masks at nail bars might be using them to cover up the fact that they are victims of human trafficking. 

Human trafficking is the recruitment or transportation of a person through force, fraud or exploitative means. 

Victims are typically from low income countries, brought to western nations to work for little to no wages. 

Speaking on the Garda podcast, Detective Chief Superintendent Thelma Waters said bosses who exploit human trafficking victims prefer them to keep their interactions with customers to a minimum. 

“While we may perceive it to be for health purposes and that I suppose we would see it, we consider that it's a potential conversation blocker,” she explained. 

“In that you may choose not to engage in conversation with an individual who's wearing a mask.

“It may be that they're directed to wear the mask and sometimes they'll pop the mask over their mouth if there is an attempt to engage in conversation.”

On The Claire Byrne Show, Liam Herrick of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission said there is “no doubt” that Ireland is a destination where such exploitation takes place. 

“When people think of trafficking and human trafficking, they tend to think of primarily trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation - which is the largest category of trafficking in Ireland,” he said. 

“If you look over 10 years, over 50% of trafficking has been with regard to sexual exploitation, but between 30 and 40% is for labour exploitation.”

Mr Herrick continued that nail bars are not the only industry where people are being exploited, with human trafficking also known to occur in the agricultural, construction and car wash sectors. 

“People might be promised jobs that are different to the jobs,” he explained. 

“Then, the exploitation that arises will be that their passports may be held, their accommodation may be controlled, they may be required to work excessive hours or work for long periods unpaid and there can be violence involved.”

Mr Herrick added that anyone who knows they are using a business that engages in human trafficking will also soon be committing a crime. 

“One of the criminal offenses that is to be introduced here is knowingly taking advantage of the services that arise from trafficking,” he said. 

“So, there is an issue of personal responsibility and certainly I think it's good that people are aware.

“But that's no substitute for having dedicated, trained and skilled services that are involved in identifying and protecting victims of trafficking.”

Main image: A woman wearing a mask. Picture by: Alamy.com.