20.25 / Human Trafficking of Persons Prohibited

Effective: November 27, 2018Last Revised: August 22, 2023

  1. Purpose

    1. Wichita State University (WSU) is committed to combating human trafficking in persons and does not tolerate or condone human trafficking of any form or at any level within the University. This policy was derived from the federal government zero tolerance policy for human trafficking (FAR 52.222-50). It is important that WSU employees, subcontractors, contractors, vendors or the like refrain from any practice that constitutes human trafficking in persons.

  2. Applicability

    1. All WSU employees must read and adhere to this policy. In addition, WSU contracted consultants and subcontractors are required to adhere to this policy to the extent required by contract or law.

  3. Policy Statement

    1. WSU forbids human trafficking in persons. WSU employees and the employees of consultants and/or subcontractors, to the extent applicable by law or contract, shall not engage in any human trafficking related activities, including but not limited to:
      1. Engage in any form of trafficking in persons during the performance of their employment or contract with WSU;
      2. Procure commercial sex acts during the performance of their employment or contract with WSU;
      3. Use forced labor in the performance of the contract;
      4. Destroy, conceal, confiscate, or otherwise deny access by an employee to the employee's identity or immigration documents, such as passports or drivers' licenses, regardless of issuing authority;
      5. Use misleading or fraudulent practices during the recruitment of employees or offering of employment, such as failing to disclose, in a format and language accessible to the worker, basic information or making material misrepresentations during the recruitment of employees regarding the key terms and conditions of employment, including wages and fringe benefits, the location of work, the living conditions, housing and associated costs (if employer or agent provided or arranged), any significant cost to be charged to the employee, and, if applicable, the hazardous nature of the work;
      6. Use recruiters that do not comply with local labor laws of the country in which the recruiting takes place;
      7. Charge employees recruitment fees;
      8. Fail to provide return transportation or pay for the cost of return transportation upon the end of employment (full text of 52.222-50 (b)(7) including limitations can be found here);
      9. Provide or arrange housing that fails to meet the host country housing and safety standards (full text of 52.222-50 (b)(8) including limitations can be found here); or
      10. If required by law or contract, fail to provide an employment contract, recruitment agreement, or other required work document in writing (full text of 52.222-50 (b)(9) including limitations can be found here).

  4. Policy Violations

    1. The University is required to and will take action for violation of the U.S. Government's zero tolerance policy, including, but not limited to:
      1. Removing the violating employee from working on any applicable contract;
      2. Reduction in benefits for the violating employee; or
      3. Imposing actions related to employment, up to and including termination of employment with WSU.

  5. Reporting Noncompliance

    1. Employees may report without fear of retaliation, activity inconsistent with the policy prohibiting trafficking by contacting WSU's Employee Reporting hotline at 1-844-724-5631 or via the WSU Hotline website, or the Global Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-844-888-FREE or via email at help@befree.org. All hotlines allow anonymous reporting as permitted by applicable law.
    2. Additional information about trafficking in persons and examples of awareness programs can be found at the website for the Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. For questions related to this policy as it pertains to human trafficking, please contact the Office of the General Counsel for WSU.

  6. Applicable Laws

    1. FAR 52.222-50

  7. Policy Owners

    1. Federal Contracts Compliance
    2. NIAR Research Compliance

  8. Revision Dates

    1. August 22, 2023 (maintenance updates only)