Labor Trafficking Is Hiding in Plain Sight
Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a grievous violation of human rights. It involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit individuals for labor or commercial sex. While sex trafficking often receives more media attention, labor trafficking is an equally devastating and widespread crime—hidden in plain sight across industries and around the world.
Understanding Labor Trafficking
Labor trafficking is the exploitation of individuals for someone else’s financial gain. Traffickers view people as property—manipulating and controlling them through fear, deception, threats, or outright violence. Victims are often denied the right to choose where they work, live, or even when they can rest. They may be forced to work long hours under inhumane conditions, while their wages are withheld or controlled.
According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), labor trafficking is:
“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.”
Where Labor Trafficking Happens
This form of trafficking can be found in both legal and illegal industries, including:
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Manufacturing
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Agriculture and farming
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Construction
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Domestic work
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Hospitality and restaurants
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Seafood and poultry processing
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Healthcare and caregiving
Labor trafficking is notoriously underreported, often hiding behind complex subcontracting chains or informal labor arrangements.
Who is Most Vulnerable?
Trafficking doesn't happen in a vacuum—it thrives in conditions of vulnerability. Some individuals are more at risk due to social, legal, or economic disadvantages. Common risk factors include:
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Immigration status: Undocumented workers or those on temporary work visas may be afraid to speak up due to fear of deportation.
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Conflict and displacement: Refugees and displaced people fleeing war, disasters, or persecution are often targeted with false promises of employment or safety.
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Gender inequality: Women, girls, and transgender individuals frequently face discrimination and limited job opportunities, making them more susceptible to exploitation.
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Lack of support systems: Youth in foster care, migrants, or individuals without strong community ties are often groomed by traffickers pretending to offer care and protection.
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Health vulnerabilities: People with disabilities or mental health challenges may be manipulated through coercion, withheld medication, or promises of basic needs.
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Former incarceration: Individuals with criminal records often have limited access to employment and housing—leaving them vulnerable to manipulation under the guise of a second chance.
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Migrant smuggling overlap: Migrants desperate for a better life may fall into the hands of traffickers posing as smugglers, only to be forced into exploitative labor upon arrival.
What Can Be Done?
Labor trafficking can only be dismantled by addressing the root causes: poverty, discrimination, lack of legal protection, and systemic inequality. At Made for Freedom, we believe in tackling this crisis through Prevention, Restoration, and Empowerment:
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Prevention through dignified employment for vulnerable individuals.
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Restoration by offering job opportunities to survivors of trafficking.
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Empowerment with scholarships and skill-building for those coming out of marginalized situations.
Together, we can build a world where exploitation has no place—and freedom, dignity, and opportunity define every person’s future.
Take Action
If you believe someone may be experiencing labor trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline:
📞 1-888-373-7888
📱 Text “HELP” to 233733
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