Labor Trafficking Indicators

Victims of labor trafficking can be of any gender, children, or adults. Victims can be U.S. citizens or foreign nationals. Because you are out on the road and in a number of communities every day, you can play a vital role in identifying potential cases of labor trafficking and alerting authorities. Here is what to look for when you are visiting drop-off/ pick-up locations or while on the road:

• A highly controlled and/or hazardous, unsafe work setting
• A work site that has heavy or excessive security measures that seem out of place
• A work site where worker housing is provided on-site and appears sub-standard, unsafe and closely monitored
• Workers at drop-off/pick up locations that avoid or are prevented from speaking to you
• If workers speak with you, they exhibit abnormal or concerning behavior including, but not limited to:

o Being fearful, anxious, submissive, nervous or tense
o Avoiding eye contact, speaking softly
o Giving you responses that seem scripted or rehearsed
o Expressing a fear of law enforcement

• Individuals you encounter are in poor physical health, appear malnourished, and show signs of abuse or lack of medical care
• Individuals you encounter have little knowledge of where they are working and/or do not have a sense of time
• If an individual speaks to you and mentions:

o They work excessively long hours and are provided few or no breaks
o Fees or deductions are made from their paychecks for housing, food, work-related equipment, etc.
o Withholding of identification documents (e.g. passport, driver’s license, etc.)
o Threats of, or actual verbal, physical or sexual abuse by an employer