San Ysidro, California - Nov 2018: US / Mexico border fence separating the US from Mexico in Southern California. Image: mikeledray/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe armed services are not doing enough to hold contractors accountable for human trafficking, according to the government’s chief watchdog agency.
In an Aug. 4 report, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) called upon the Defense Department to abide more closely to the nation’s zero-tolerance policy regarding human trafficking. Noting that contractors frequently rely upon foreign workers to serve as construction and security workers, GAO noted that many of these laborers have complained that they have been subject to wage withholding and other abuse.
The report noted that Army and Navy officials were “unaware or unclear” about their responsibility to monitor for trafficking abuses. GAO also stated that the Army did not meet its requirement to report all trafficking incidents. The agency recommended that both services issue guidance that reinforces the commitment to monitor the well-being of contractor personnel and clarify the process for reporting violations. The Army, GAO also said, needs to improve its process for reporting such incidents.
