To the untrained eye, it might be hard to detect labor trafficking. Who are common victims and what does this act of illegal slave labor actually look like? There are victims of labor trafficking working in places we either visit or drive by on a regular basis: restaurants, factories, construction sites, farms, hotels and even homes.
Need to Know has covered human trafficking in the past, but on this edition of the program, we’re focusing in on labor exploitation right here, in the Rochester region. What does it mean? How does it happen? What are some common misperceptions? And how can local industries and residents identify it and respond effectively?
Joining this conversation - Lewis Papenfuse, Executive Director of Worker Justice Center of New York and Renan Salgado, Human Trafficking Specialist with the organization. Worker Justice Center of NY has been at the forefront in the fight against human trafficking in agriculture for more than 30 years. The mission of the organization is to pursue justice for those denied human rights with a focus on agricultural and other low-wage workers, through legal representation, community empowerment and advocacy for institutional change.