PROCUREMENT

PREVENTING TRAFFICKING BY UPDATING PROCUREMENT POLICIES

The Problem 

Procurement is the process government agencies use to purchase the goods and services they need to operate, including construction projects, cleaning services, food, uniforms, technology, transportation, and event-related services. Because local and state governments spend billions of dollars each year through public contracts, procurement policies play a powerful role in shaping labor practices. When governments set clear standards and choose responsible companies, they can help ensure that public funds do not support exploitation or human trafficking.

Despite this leverage, procurement policies in California and Los Angeles do not consistently require contractors and subcontractors to follow strong anti-trafficking standards. Gaps between local, state, and federal requirements mean that many publicly funded projects lack basic worker protections, particularly for immigrants, day laborers, and workers 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 Olympic Games, accelerated contracting timelines and increased demand for temporary labor make these vulnerabilities even more urgent, underscoring the need for proactive, enforceable safeguards.

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.