Young calls for need to protect service industry workers from human trafficking
Rep. Regina Young October 28, 2024 | 11:46 AM
ESSINGTON, Oct. 28 – Today, state Rep. Regina Young, D-Delaware/Phila., hosted a news conference at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham at the Philadelphia International Airport to discuss the need to train hotel and service industry workers to combat human trafficking and her legislation to provide that training.
Young is working to combat the growing problem of sex and human trafficking by partnering with the restaurant and lodging industry to implement required awareness training for hotel employees.
Due to their anonymous and low-risk nature, hotels and motels are often prime locations used for exploitation. To that end, hotel associates are uniquely situated to identify and report suspicious activity.
Young’s legislation (H.B. 2455 ) would require hotel and motel associates be trained to understand what human trafficking is, how to identify it, and what steps to take if suspected trafficking is taking place.
“Human trafficking is an evil practice that happens across the country, and Pennsylvania is not immune from it,” Young said. “Hotel and service-industry workers tend to be particularly at risk of being victims. With the Philadelphia Airport located in my district, the issue is especially pervasive here. Making sure hotel and motel associates are trained to understand what human trafficking is can be a crucial step in protecting these workers from human trafficking.”
As recently as 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 192 cases of human trafficking in Pennsylvania, of which 315 victims were involved.
Young’s legislation currently sits in the Pennsylvania House Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development Committee.