Murray Avenue, Squirel Hill, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
American Woman married to man from Thailand who own The Silk Elephant import workers from Thailand, keep them in a very small apartment above the restaurant (at least 12 total) and make them work long hours with little pay (paid under the table) in restaurant below. They are baited with the possiblity of green cards and kept as indentured slaves - owing the owner for rent, food, clothing, etc. Eventually they are sent back to Thailand - so said a former employee of the establishment. The same owners own another restaurant in the city with two floors above as well for their employees to live there.
Location
United States · Murray Avenue, Squirel Hill, Pittsburgh, PA · 2009 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
Former employee who left because of how the owner treated these employees from Thailand. She works with me now and shared these details. Coincidentally, another employee whom I work with, had also worked for the same employee at the other establishment they own and witnessed the same conditions.
Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don't have a verifiable source on file yet — use “Report a problem” below to add one.