When you think of human trafficking, most people think of sex trafficking. However, there is another type of human trafficking called labor trafficking. Labor trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where a person is forced to work without pay or for very little pay and with other disadvantages. There were 22 reported cases of labor trafficking in South Carolina last year. Most of these cases involve migrant workers, hotel workers and restaurant workers.
Who is Vulnerable to Labor Trafficking
Certain individuals are more at risk for being trafficked for labor than others. Labor trafficking includes men, women and children. Here are some of the risk factors for human trafficking, and labor trafficking in particular.
- Person has an unstable living situation
- Person is a run away or is/was part of the child welfare system
- Person is an undocumented immigrant
- Person is addicted to drugs or alcohol
- Person is facing poverty and economic desperation
Signs of Labor Trafficking
Learn to spot the signs of labor trafficking. Just a few signs someone is experiencing labor trafficking or exploitation include:
- Not having control over their passport or identification
- Living and working in isolated conditions
- Threatened by boss or supervisors with deportation or bodily harm
- Pressured to stay in the job or situation when they state they want to leave
- Owe money to an employer or recruiter
- Not being payed what is promised or owed
- Being monitored when interacting or talking with other people
- Working in dangerous conditions, without proper safety gear, adequate training or breaks
- Living in dangerous, overcrowded or inhumane conditions that are provided by the employer
If you suspect someone might be a victim of human trafficking, call The National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text the hotline at 233733. You can help save someone from human trafficking and labor trafficking. Human trafficking is a global business and unfortunately, it happens everywhere so no town is too small to have victims of human trafficking.
