People deserve to be paid for the work that they do. But there are corporations and individuals that exploit vulnerable populations and force them to labor for them without compensation.
That is a violation of human rights, but the oppressors won’t want their victims to realize that. Below are some of the ways people get shunted into forced labor and how they can be helped.
It’s not always physical coercion
The immigrant population is ripe for exploitation by bad actors who might say that the recent migrants owe large sums of money to their employers/sponsors for securing their passage to the United States.
The problems begin when the immigrant realizes they will never be able to pay off this debt and gets stuck working here for free.
Immigration laws are in flux
The administration continues to tweak its immigration policies in real-time, causing concerns among people in immigrant communities. Not being fluent in English, it is easy to get confused about which policies apply and which do not.
Human rights violations a scourge to all
It’s not just the workers who suffer due to instances of forced labor by traffickers and others. These criminals collect, worldwide, a stunning sum of nearly $20 million. California residents face losses from the untaxed economic activities of forced labor victims, as the state and federal governments are cheated out of their revenue.
Seek guidance from professionals
There are a lot of hoops to jump through to work legally in the United States. Those who come here should have the chance to enjoy the fruits of their own labor.
If you are being victimized in this way or in a similar manner, learning more about human rights violations can help you find the right path forward.