It’s important to understand the resources and regulations concerning Human Trafficking notices. U.S. Federal law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor or services against his or her will. Since the TVPA was first introduced in 2000, it has been reauthorized several times. Now, many states have produced notices regarding human trafficking. All of these notices include important information but aren’t mandatory labor law postings for most employers in most states. However, there is one major exception.

Human Trafficking Notice Must be Posted in New Mexico

New Mexico requires all employers to post the notice (in English and Spanish). As a result, the New Mexico labor law posters have the Human Trafficking notice included with other mandatory employment law notices. The notice, titled “Notice On Human Trafficking” states that obtaining forced labor or service is a crime under state and federal law and informs people of where to call or text with information related to such a crime.  

Other places Human Trafficking notices are required 

For most states, the Human Trafficking notice is only required in certain types of establishments. The nature of these establishments usually involves vulnerable patrons or transient populations. The exact requirements vary from state to state, but most states require them in only the following spaces (if any).

• Adult entertainment businesses
• Businesses where alcohol is served
• Hotels and motels
• Airports, bus stations, and train stations

Some states also require human trafficking posters to be displayed in medical facilities that provide emergency services, such as urgent care centers and emergency rooms. States with this requirement include Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, and Missouri. As a result, Human Trafficking posters are included with those states’ healthcare bundles.

Free Human Trafficking Resources

Most states’ Human Trafficking notices can be downloaded for free from our Free Specialty Posters page. Although not required for workplaces like office buildings (except in New Mexico), any employer can print out the notice for free and display it if they want. It’s a great idea to use these free resources to increase awareness of what can be done to help combat human trafficking.

If you have more questions about your state, you can select your state from the menu on our Free Specialty Notices page to filter the relevant notices. You can also reach out to one of our Labor Law Experts for more information.  

Key resources: National Human Trafficking Hotline

If you suspect trafficking or other types of exploitation, you should call the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (1-888-373-7888) to report suspected human trafficking. To learn more about preventing and protecting against both forced labor and commercial sex acts, visit the National Human Trafficking website for more information.