← Know Your Rights
Employment
Working hours
What reasonable working hours look like, and how excessive hours can signal forced labor.
What it means
- Your contract should specify expected working hours, rest days, and how overtime is calculated and paid.
- Extremely long hours with no rest, especially combined with restricted movement, are a recognized indicator of forced labor.
Warning signs
- You are required to work far beyond the hours in your contract with no extra pay.
- You are denied rest days or time off, even when requested in advance.
- You are told the hours 'don't count' because of your visa or immigration status.
What to do
- Keep your own log of hours worked, including start and end times.
- Raise concerns in writing where possible, so there is a record.
- Understand that being asked to work does not remove your right to rest. Document any pattern of denial.
Where to seek help
- A labor rights organization operating in the destination country.
- A worker's association connected to your industry, where one exists.
This is general information, not country-specific legal advice. Local hotlines, embassy contacts, and vetted referral partners will appear here as SafePath expands into each region.