Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act

Employees whose duties may expose trafficking can better identify suspected victims and traffickers, refer potential cases, and protect victims’ rights.

What the law does ​

• Requires the Secretary of Labor to launch the training program within 180 days.
• Directs the department to select employees based on their duties and consider the needs of Wage and Hour Division staff in states with significant increases in oppressive child labor.
• Allows in-person or virtual instruction tailored to employees’ locations, work settings, current trends, and best practices.
• Covers trafficking detection, identification of suspected victims and traffickers, referrals to appropriate authorities, victims’ rights, and privacy-law compliance.
• Requires participants to evaluate completed training and continuing education.
• Requires annual reports to Congress, beginning one year after implementation, on participation, effectiveness, referrals, and tracking of authorities’ responses.

Who it affects ​

• Department of Labor employees whose duties may put them in a position to detect human trafficking.
• Wage and Hour Division employees, particularly in states seeing significant increases in oppressive child labor.
• Suspected trafficking victims and traffickers identified through employees’ work.
• Authorities receiving potential trafficking referrals and Congress overseeing the program.

Breakdown ​

Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act ​

This law requires the Department of Labor to establish training and continuing education for employees whose duties may put them in a position to detect human trafficking. The training must help employees identify suspected trafficking, refer potential cases to appropriate authorities, and protect victims’ rights. The department must report annually to Congress on the program and trafficking-related referrals.

Key takeaways

• The Secretary of Labor must implement the training program within 180 days after enactment.
• The Secretary must select employees for training based on their official duties and consider the needs of Wage and Hour Division employees in states experiencing significant increases in oppressive child labor.
• Training may be in person or virtual and must be tailored to employees’ locations or professional environments, current trends, and best practices.
• The program must teach employees how to detect trafficking, identify suspected victims and traffickers, and refer potential cases to appropriate authorities while protecting victims’ rights and complying with privacy laws.
• Employees must evaluate the training or continuing education after completing it.
• Beginning one year after the program is first implemented, the Secretary must report annually to Congress on participation, effectiveness, referrals, and how the department tracks authorities’ responses to referred cases.