Which of the following describes a Wages red flag indicator?

• A. Bruises or other signs of physical abuse
• B. Wages withheld or paid long periods
• C. Not paid for work
• D. An employee refers to someone else to speak for him or her

Answer: (B)

Wages red flag indicators point to exploitative labor practices where an employer exercises control over a worker’s earnings to coerce continued labor. Wages withheld or paid long periods directly show that control in action: workers may be paid irregularly or not at all, creating debt, fear, and dependence that prevent them from leaving. This pattern reflects a deliberate effort to strip workers of their income as a means of coercion, a hallmark of trafficking-related labor exploitation.

In contrast, bruises or signs of physical abuse flag unsafe or abusive conditions, which is a serious concern but not about how wages are used to control the worker. Not paid for work is also a wage-related issue, but the specific indicator of control through withholding or delaying pay best captures the trafficking dynamic of coercion tied to earnings, making it the strongest descriptor for a wages red flag. An employee referring to someone else to speak for them points to power or representation concerns, not directly to wage-based manipulation.