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Article

4 Aug 2017

Author:
Associated Press

USA: 3 Filipino workers sue businesses in Oklahoma over alleged human trafficking & forced labour; companies deny allegations

“Lawsuit says trafficking scheme lured Filipino workers to Oklahoma”, 28 Jul 2017

Owners of…Oklahoma…businesses engaged in a human trafficking scheme that lured workers from the Philippines promising good wages but instead paid them less than the minimum wage.

…The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union…says the immigrants [from the Philippines] were threatened with physical harm when they complained that their compensation didn’t meet contractual obligations. It also seeks class-action status…[and] an unspecified amount in punitive and compensatory damages for the workers…Low pay and short workweeks meant the immigrants couldn’t repay debts they incurred just to get to the U.S., the lawsuit says.

...[T]he [defendants] deny “the substance of the allegations and what took place.”

…ACLU lawyer said …human trafficking…”…has a lot more elements of indentured servitude or slavery than [the public] realize,”…“Most people probably don’t realize how prevalent it is, potentially in their own communities.”...

[Also refers to Holiday Inn Express]