Contact:
Krysta West
Communications Director
Senate Republican Office
(207) 287-1505
krysta.west@legislature.maine.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUSTA – Assistant Majority Leader Amy Volk (R-Cumberland) has long been an advocate for cracking down on sex trafficking in Maine. This session, she seeks to expand her efforts to include human labor trafficking with LD 1740, “An Act To Establish the Crimes of Criminal Forced Labor and Aggravated Criminal Forced Labor in the Maine Criminal Code.”

Labor trafficking – or forced labor – is the act of using coercion by threatening, manipulating or making false promises, to compel someone to work for little or no compensation. Victims are usually those with limited power and means, including migrant workers, immigrants or refugees, those living in extreme poverty and drug addicts.

Senator Volk says, “While Maine currently has some laws that can be used to support labor trafficking victims, they aren’t as effective as they should be because they are drafted in such a broad manner. If passed, my legislation will better support law enforcement and prosecutors by naming forced labor as a crime, which in turn will help victims in their recovery and bring more offenders to justice.”

LD 1740 has been referred to the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee for consideration. A public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 17 at 9:00 am in State House

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