

This is a better article but basically she was ‘working’ in the US by exchanging help around the house for a place to stay. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80y3yx1jdyo
Apparently the Canadians were concerned she’d work while in Canada? This kind of housework for accommodation is super common in the backpacking, hostel, hitchhiking kind of space. It’s ridiculous to treat tourists like this because of simply doing a little house work.
Another example with hikers going along the AT or PCT will frequently do housework like activities to payback hostels or shuttle drivers.
Ships of course, it’s the way all countries already do it. https://www.follow-this.org/roughly-40-percent-of-all-bulk-shipping-globally-is-for-coal-oil-and-gas/