Modern slavery

Modern slavery encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.

Potential indicators of slavery 

• Victims may show signs of physical or psychological abuse, look malnourished or unkempt, or appear withdrawn
• Victims may rarely be allowed to travel on their own, seem under the control or influence of others, rarely interact or appear unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work
• Victims may be living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation, and / or living and working at the same address
• Victims may have no identification documents, have few personal possessions and always wear the same clothes day-in day-out What clothes they do wear may not be suitable for their work
• Victims may have little opportunity to move freely and may have had their travel documents retained, eg. passports
• Victims may be dropped off or collected for work on a regular basis either very early or late at night
• Victims may avoid eye contact, appear frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers and fear law enforcers for many reasons, such as not knowing who to trust or where to get help, fear of deportation, fear of violence to them or their family.