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Labor Trafficking

Labor trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. Trafficking Victims Protection Act 2000. 

 

 


Common Indicators:

 

  • Individuals lack identification documents (state ID, passport, etc.)

  • Individuals are unaware of their surroundings

  • Individuals sleep and work in the same place

  • Individuals work long hours and are unable to take breaks

  • Individuals are paid very little or not at all

  • Individuals show signs of abuse and injuries that are not medically treated

  • Individuals do not possess the requisite safety equipment for their jobs

  • Individuals work in an unsafe environment

  • Individuals depend on employer for housing, food, and transportation


Common Myths

 

Myth: Labor trafficking victims are poor, foreign-born nationals who entered the US illegally.

The Truth: Human trafficking victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Vulnerability to trafficking can come from many circumstances, and poverty is only one such circumstance. Individuals living in poverty are disproportionately affected, but people from all socioeconomic backgrounds are affected.

Myth: They could escape if they really wanted to leave.

The Truth:  Traffickers often use psychological means to control the victims. The traffickers often keep control of the victim’s identification documents and money. The victims are often isolated and far from their home without means to contact their family.

Myth: If the victims consent to the work, they are not victims of trafficking.

The Truth:  If someone consents to the work before the trafficker used force, fraud, or coercion, it is not relevant. Often the traffickers present the victim with a situation that would be financially beneficial for them and their family, but once the person consents and begins working the situation is not what was promised. In this situation, the consent was fraudulently made is not valid.

Myth: If the person is paid, they are not a labor trafficking victim.

The Truth:  Victims usually are paid, but that money is then taken by the trafficker to provide housing, meals, and transportation. The housing, meals, and transportation the trafficker provides are inadequate and often inhumane. While the victims are being paid it is not a livable wage.


What should you do if you suspect labor trafficking?

 

If you are actively observing human trafficking or there is an emergency call 911.

If not an emergency but you have observed some red flags, call your local non-emergency police number.

If a minor is involved, call the Department of Child Services 1-800-800-5556.

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-800-373-7888 link to website for chat feature https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Text HELP to Be Free (233733) to text with the National Human Trafficking Hotline

 


Additional Information

Labor Trafficking Information Sheet - English

Labor Trafficking Information Sheet - Espanol


Contact Us:

For questions please contact: htinfo@atg.in.gov

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

Phone: 1-888-373-7888