Which two indicators are identified as red flags for trafficking in persons?

• A. Safety and Documents
• B. Contractual noncompliance and Criminal activity
• C. Wages and Working conditions
• D. Freedom and Documents

Answer: (B)

Focusing on indicators that reveal coercion and illegal activity helps you spot trafficking in labor supply chains. Contractual noncompliance stands out because when an employer or recruiter ignores or manipulates the contract terms—such as withholding wages, making prohibitive or undocumented changes to hours, or imposing conditions not in the agreement—it signals deliberate control over a worker. That kind of pattern is a hallmark of trafficking schemes: the exploitation is embedded in how the job is actually governed, not just in isolated workplace problems.

Criminal activity as a red flag matters even more because trafficking relies on illegal recruitment and exploitation. When recruiters or employers engage in fraud, falsify documents, or use debt bondage, they’re actively part of criminal networks designed to profit from trafficked labor. Detecting these criminal actions points directly to trafficking, distinguishing it from ordinary labor violations.

Other potential concerns like general safety, wage levels, or basic access to documents can indicate problems in labor conditions, but they don’t necessarily reveal the deliberate coercion and illegal recruitment central to trafficking. The combination of contract violations and criminal involvement provides a clearer, more actionable signal that trafficking may be occurring, prompting appropriate due diligence, escalation, and safeguarding steps.