The Misconception of Modern Slavery: Reinterpreting Forced Labour | Fair Observer°

Source: The Fair Observer

17 MAY 2013
MIRKO VAN PAMPUS

The dominant terminology on forced labour relations is too rigid in assuming the existence of two homogeneous but separated groups of workers.

"For three hundred years, the most powerful nations on earth grew richer and stronger on the profits of slave trade. Over twelve million men, women and children were forcefully transported from Africa...to the colonies and plantations of North and South America. Today, slavery is illegal in every country on the planet, but the truth is slavery did not die in the 19th Century. It is alive, it is thriving and it is bigger than ever."

With this sweeping statement, researcher and journalist Rageh Omaar introduces every episode of the eight-part Al Jazeera series on modern slavery. The message is clear: slavery is by no means banished to history books, but still out there as an embarrassing injustice in the modern world."

Well worth reading. Full article at 

http://www.fairobserver.com/article/misconception-modern-slavery-reinterpreting-forced-labour

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

MIRKO VAN PAMPUS

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Mirko van Pampus holds an MSc in Development Studies from the School for Oriental and African Studies (University of London). He specialises in issues of labour and development, such as unionisation, informalisation of labour, and labour exploitation in the sphere of global capitalist production relations.

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