Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Federal Contracts to Add|Sex Trafficking Language

WASHINGTON (CN) - President Barack Obama has ordered changes made to federal contracting regulations to strengthen protections against trafficking in persons. Changes are also meant to curb the procurement of commercial sex acts, and the use of forced labor.

Strengthening protections includes expressly prohibiting numerous activities, such as using misleading recruitment practices; denying access by an employee to the employee's identity documents; and failing to pay for return transportation.

Under the order, where the estimated value of the supplies acquired or services required to be performed outside the United States exceeds $500,000, each contractor and subcontractor must maintain a compliance plan during the performance of the contract or subcontract that is appropriate for the size and complexity of the contract or subcontract and the nature and scope of the activities performed, including the risk that the contract or subcontract will involve services or supplies susceptible to trafficking.

Within a year, the agencies of the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons must establish a process for evaluating and identifying, for federal contracts and subcontracts performed substantially within the United States, "whether there are industries or sectors with a history (or where there is current evidence) of trafficking-related or forced labor activities" where further safeguards, guidance, and compliance assistance must be put into place, according to the president's order.

Tracking and enforcement of rules also must take effect.

Click the document icon for this regulation and others.

Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...