Someone in servitude feels they cannot stop working or leave their place of work. Their freedom is very restricted. For example, they may be told when they can eat, sleep and shower. They may be told who they can see and talk to.
Servitude can happen in any type of job. It could be in building, farming, manufacturing, cleaning, retail, hospitality, a family business or an office.
Someone can be in domestic servitude in a home (for example, as a housekeeper, nanny or au pair). They may be made to cook, clean and care for others, including children, without ever getting a break. They may think they can’t leave.
Servitude can also include sexual servitude, and may take place in a brothel.
Someone can be in servitude even if escape is physically possible.
What servitude looks like
In addition to general warning signs of modern slavery, there are other signs that someone might be in domestic or sexual servitude:
Servitude, including domestic servitude
Living conditions
Someone in domestic servitude may:
- live with a family
- not eat with the family
- have no private space
- sleep in a shared or inappropriate space
- have few or no personal possessions or inappropriate clothing for the environment.
Control and isolation
They may:
- never or rarely leave the house for social reasons
- never leave the house without their employer or guardian
- be nervous about speaking with people outside the household
- be made to do free or low-paid domestic or other labour.
Abuse
They may:
- experience insults, abuse, threats or violence
- show signs of domestic or family violence
- make excuses for their physical injuries
- have experienced sexual assault with a partner or others
- be forced to take drugs or alcohol to allow for greater control.
Sexual servitude
Restricted movement and control
Someone in sexual servitude may:
- be moved from one brothel to the next or work in various locations
- be escorted to and from work and other activities
- sleep where they work
- live or travel in a group, sometimes with other women who do not speak the same language
- be with groups of women who are under the control of others.
Exploitation and abuse
They may:
- be unable to refuse unprotected and/or violent sex
- have injuries from unprotected and/or violent sex
- show evidence they have been bought and sold
- be coerced into decisions regarding their sexual or reproductive health, such as undergoing an abortion.
Financial and personal restrictions
Someone in sexual servitude may:
- have no cash of their own or control of their wages
- have very few items of clothing or not own ‘seasonal’ clothing
- appear in advertisements for brothels or similar places offering the services of women from a particular ethnicity or nationality. They may provide services to customers of a particular ethnicity or nationality.
Servitude is a serious crime
In Australia, it is against the law to force someone to work and deny other personal freedoms.
Under Australia’s Criminal Code, the penalty for servitude includes jail for up to 20 years.
