ISABEL ' S STORY
DAUGHTERS OF A KING
LABOR TRAFFICKING in the UNITED STATES
ISABEL ' S STORY
" Following 8 years of separation , Isabel * was finally reconnected with her two boys . Isabel is from the Philippines and was trafficked to the United States as a domestic servant .
World Relief referred Isabel to Fashion & Compassion in 2014 after she was rescued , and today , she and her sons are rebuilding their relationship . She is attending Christian counseling and has even joined the F & C staff as the Assistant Jewelry Project Manager ."
- Testimony from Fashion & Compassion
* Name changed for protection .
Reported by : Constance Owens DOAK Magazine
Victims of Forced Labor
The International Labor Organization estimates there are about 21 million people worldwide who are victims of forced labor . According to a new report published by the nonpartisan Urban Institute and Northeastern University , foreign workers are often lured by false promises of good jobs in America but soon find themselves enslaved in plain sight as victims of labor trafficking . About half of these workers pay ' recruitment ' fees to traffickers that leave them ' stuck ' in debt for years . And while some victims are smuggled , the majority actually enter the United States with a lawful Visa .
A report funded by the U . S . Department of Justice details the way victims get ensnared by labor traffickers and how difficult it is for them to break free . Here ' s how it happens :
The Bait and Pitch
Traffickers lure victims with promises of a job opportunity from someone they know in their home country . Then they meet with a recruiter who is often from an employment agency seeking workers for U . S . employers . The recruiter pitches how employment in America would offer a better life for the worker and their family . In 93 % of the cases reviewed by the Urban Institute , the recruiter misrepresented the job , with promises of good hours , benefits ( health insurance , tuition , vacation ), and perks ( e . g . free housing , and even permanent residency in U . S .).
Once the pitch is made , the recruiter often pressures the victims to quickly sign contracts they don ' t understand and are required to pay high recruitment fees . These fees can range from $ 1,750 to $ 25,000 . In order to afford the fee , the report showed victims sell family property , mortgage their land , or even take out high-interest loans .
For the majority of the victims who came to the U . S . legally , the last step in the recruitment process is to take the worker to the U . S . embassy or consulate to obtain a visa .
The Reality Once in the U . S ., the employers or subcontrac-