PROCUREMENT

PREVENTING TRAFFICKING BY UPDATING PROCUREMENT POLICIES

THE PROBLEM 

Government agencies in California and Los Angeles purchase billions of dollars’ worth of goods and services every year, yet current procurement policies do not consistently require companies to follow anti-trafficking standards. Without clear expectations, oversight, or verification, public dollars can unintentionally support contractors and subcontractors who engage in labor exploitation, recruitment fraud, or trafficking-related practices.

Gaps between local, state, and federal procurement policies also mean that many publicly funded projects lack basic protections for workers—particularly immigrants, day laborers, and those in low-wage, high-risk industries such as construction, cleaning, landscaping, and event staffing. As Los Angeles prepares for large-scale events like the World Cup and the Olympics, these vulnerabilities grow even more urgent.

OUR GOAL

Our goal is to strengthen state and local procurement policies to ensure that public funds do not support exploitation or trafficking. Through our advocacy, we seek to:

• Align Los Angeles City and County procurement policies with federal anti-trafficking standards.
• Require contractors and subcontractors to adopt clear anti-trafficking policies and training.
• Promote transparency and accountability in public purchasing and contracting.
• Ensure high-risk industries—such as construction, hospitality, cleaning, and event staffing—are included in monitoring and oversight.
• Build consistent, survivor-informed safeguards into procurement systems ahead of major global events hosted in Los Angeles.

THE IMPACT

Strengthening procurement policies would:

• Prevent public money from supporting companies that engage in exploitation or trafficking.
• Reduce worker vulnerabilities by setting clear, enforceable labor standards.
• Improve transparency in supply chains and subcontracting networks.
• Promote ethical business practices among vendors seeking government contracts.
• Create a model for other jurisdictions seeking to strengthen anti-trafficking protections.

Updating procurement policies is a simple, proactive step that protects workers and ensures public contracts reflect community values.

Understanding Procurement

Procurement is the process government agencies use to buy the goods and services they need to operate. This includes everything from construction projects and cleaning services to food, uniforms, technology, and transportation. Since local and state government buy so many products and services every year, the way they choose who to work with makes a big difference. By choosing responsible companies and setting simple standards, they help make sure public money doesn’t support exploitation or trafficking.

Why Procurement Matters in Preventing Trafficking

When state and local authorities require businesses to follow clear anti-trafficking rules and check where their products and labor come from, it helps prevent forced labor and other abuses. Updating procurement policies across Los Angeles and the State of California to match federal standards would close important gaps and make sure companies taking public money are doing their part to prevent trafficking. Strengthening procurement is a simple, proactive step to protect workers, promote fair treatment, and prevent exploitation, especially as Los Angeles prepares for major events like the World Cup and the Olympics.

LA CITY AND COUNTY   

White Paper: The Need to Update LA Procurement Policy

Read More: Preventing Trafficking During the Olympics & World Cup

CALIFORNIA