Recent reports and growing activism are shedding light on the pervasive issue of forced labor within the United States prison system, where hundreds of thousands of incarcerated individuals work for minimal or no pay while generating significant revenue for state governments and private corporations. This practice has drawn international scrutiny, with organizations like the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) raising concerns about the U.S.'s adherence to global labor standards, according to a report obtained by the Washington Post.