What is informal labor?
Sometimes life throws us a curve ball and we find ourselves feeling trapped in a situation that we would have never imagined for ourselves. For some of us, that situation means involvement in informal labor . Not all informal labor, such as exotic dancing or in some areas street vending, or hawking is illegal, however most informal labor is not regulated by the government and consequently exposes you to harm. We do consider sex work, and gang related labor - which may include selling narcotics or weapons, as a part of the informal economy called street economy. While work in the street economy may be done out of necessity, we do acknowledge that in many cases it can forced upon you by someone else exposing you to significant harm and potential arrest. If you need help exploring new paths for yourself, consider the following resources to help you take your next steps forward.
Leaving Sex Work
Victims of Human Trafficking Help
Freedom from Trafficking: Foreign Victims of Human Trafficking
SWOP: Free legal services for individuals currently or previously involved in the sex industry (Chicago based)
If you are currently being forced into sex work or subjected to physical abuse and feel that you may be in danger please text LOVEIS to 22522 or click here.