The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday requested a report from the Los Angeles Police Department on its efforts to monitor and combat forced labor practices.
Additionally, the city's procurement officer and Bureau of Contract Administration will be tasked with providing details on the protocols used to ensure vendors with city contracts do not engage in forced labor practices.
The council voted 14-0, with Councilman Curren Price absent.
Council members Monica Rodriguez and Hugo Soto-Martinez called for the report via motion, which they introduced in December 2023.
They noted that forced labor -- when people are compelled against their will to provide service through the use of force, fraud or coercion -- is a large component of human trafficking. Officials said certain risk factors can make individuals or groups more vulnerable, such as immigration status, language barriers, poverty and lack of basic needs.
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According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, victims of human trafficking and forced labor can be any race, age, religious affiliation, gender identity, nationality or socioeconomic group.
Signs that a business or employer may be engaging in forced labor practices can show up at any point during the recruitment and employment process. Employers might deceive workers into an exploitative job or create a debt bondage by charging recruitment fees. Once the person is working, the employer may also force, defraud, or coerce the victim to perform work not agreed to at the time of the requirement.
"Incidents of forced labor occur in Los Angeles and the region every day; however, these activities are seldom reported," the motion reads. "As such, the city must make every effort to monitor and combat forced labor practices in order to ensure the protection and welfare of vulnerable populations."
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