Which of the following are common trafficking in persons contract violations?

• A. Contracts not in employees native language; Inadequate living conditions for employees; False or fraudulent promises of one job and given another; Debt bondage
• B. Unsafe working conditions; Recruitment fees; Wage discrepancies; Language barriers
• C. Compliance with CTIP training and policy
• D. A contract in employees native language; Good living conditions; True job promises; No debt bondage

Answer: (A)

Trafficking in persons contract violations center on deception, coercion, and control embedded in the terms presented to workers. When a contract is not in the employee’s native language, the worker cannot fully understand the obligations, rights, or consequences, which invalidates informed consent and opens the door to abuse. Inadequate living conditions violate the implied or explicit terms of care and can be used as pressure to keep workers in exploitative arrangements. False or fraudulent promises about one job followed by a different role is direct misrepresentation that lures workers into unsuitable or dangerous work and binds them to unwanted conditions. Debt bondage—the use of recruitment fees or other debts to trap workers—creates coercive leverage that makes leaving or contesting terms nearly impossible. Together, these contract-related issues are characteristic mechanisms by which trafficking operates, distinguishing them from general labor violations that pertain to safety, pay, or fair treatment but aren’t necessarily embedded in the contract itself. Conversely, ensuring contracts in the native language, maintaining good living conditions, making true job promises, and avoiding debt bondage describe protective, compliant practices rather than violations.