Are you or do you know someone who feels trapped or unable to leave a work situation?
There are laws to protect workers stuck in a bad work situation. For example, if you are:
- Not being paid, or not being paid minimum wage
- Forced to do things because you owe your employer-recruiter money
- Receiving threats about your immigration status
- Working long hours without breaks
- Your employer keeps control of your immigration documents
- Not allowed to leave work or your housing without your employer’s permission
- Limited in your ability to communicate with the outside world without employer consent
- Not permitted time off for work injuries or a health condition
Then you may be a victim of what is called “Human Trafficking.”
About Human Trafficking
Trafficking is when an employer restricts or controls a worker's choices in ways they should not. A person may feel trapped because of a debt owed to the employer. There may be charges for meals, transportation, tools or other items that may be improper and reduce a person’s earnings below minimum wage. In some cases, the employer might insist on controlling a person’s immigration documents or threaten to contact immigration authorities. Or you may be made to work long hours without breaks. Even told to provide sex for a job.
If any of this is happening, you might be a victim of Labor Trafficking. Human Labor Trafficking is against the law. It is criminal and you might be entitled to money damages.
Get Help from the Farmworker Unit
If you, or someone you know, might be in a Trafficking situation, please contact the Pine Tree Legal Assistance Farmworker Unit at:
Phone: (207) 942-0673
Cell/WhatsApp: (207)-233-2930
All communication is private and confidential.
Pine Tree Legal Assistance is an organization of lawyers and legal advocates located around Maine who assist low-income individuals with civil legal needs.