Would You Recognize Human Trafficking If You Saw It?
Human trafficking is not just exploited women and children, and it’s not limited to the sex or drug trade. Labor trafficking can be found in daycare facilities, salons, restaurants, hotels, farms, and factories. The victims are hiding in plain sight. It could be as close to you as the woman who does your nails, the man caring for your office building’s landscape, even your friend’s nanny, or your parents’ home health care worker.
It’s men, women, and even children forced to work because of debt, immigration status, threats, and violence.
Learn to recognize the signs of labor trafficking and exploitation. A person may be experiencing labor trafficking or exploitation if they feel pressured by their employer to stay in a job they want to leave or if they owe money that keeps them from leaving. They could be working in dangerous conditions without proper safety gear, training, or food or water breaks, and they may be monitored by another person when talking or interacting with others.
They may not have control of their passport or other identity documents or they may be threatened by their boss with deportation or other harm. They could be living in dangerous, overcrowded, or unsanitary conditions provided by an employer.
Working in a private residence creates unique vulnerabilities for victims. Many domestic workers, including housekeeping and child and eldercare, don’t receive the basic benefits and protections commonly extended to other groups of workers—things as simple as a day off. Domestic workers, especially women, often experience other forms of abuse, harassment, and exploitation, including sexual and gender-based violence.
Keeping victims isolated — physically or emotionally — is a key method of control in most labor trafficking situations, but that does not mean you will never stumble across a human trafficking situation. Know what to do when it happens! If you can speak privately with the suspected victim, the U.S. Department of State suggests you ask a few basic questions to learn about their working conditions. “Can you leave your job if you want to?” “Can you come and go as you please?” “Have you been hurt or threatened if you tried to leave, or has your family been threatened?” “Where do you sleep and eat?” “Are you in debt to your employer?” “Do you have your passport or ID? Who has it?”
Did their answers make you more concerned? Have the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-888-373-7888ready and offer to call for them, they may have no phone or there may be a language barrier.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national 24-hour, toll-free, multilingual anti-trafficking hotline. Callers can report a tip and connect with anti-trafficking services in your area. The Hotline is ready and able to handle calls from across the United States. It is there with resources for potential trafficking victims, community members, law enforcement, medical and legal professionals, and social services providers.
Don’t forget that the trafficker has power over the victim and threats of harm or deportation that could extend to his or her family, so even if you are alone with them, they may be too scared to accept your help.
Remember, too, the trafficker is a criminal. You may be putting yourself in danger just by speaking to the victim; you have no way of knowing how the trafficker might retaliate against the victim and you.
If you suspect the victim, or you, could be in any danger, notify your local law enforcement immediately by calling 911. Alert the National Human Trafficking Hotline as well, they work with multiple departments to ensure response by law enforcement officials knowledgeable about human trafficking.
Labor trafficking is real and it’s found in the restaurants, farms, nail salons and private homes of your community, be aware and be ready to help.
