Indentured Labor

Definition

Indentured labor refers to a system where individuals agree to work for a certain period of time in exchange for something, usually passage to a new country.

Analogy

Imagine signing up for an internship that promises you valuable experience and connections, but you have to work long hours with little or no pay. That's similar to indentured labor - people agreed to work under tough conditions in hopes of a better future.

Related terms

Contract Labor: A form of employment where workers are hired for specific jobs at fixed rates. This is similar to indentured labor but usually doesn't involve the same level of exploitation or long-term commitment.

Migration: The movement of people from one place to another. Many indentured laborers were migrants seeking better opportunities.

Debt Peonage: A system where an employer compels a worker to pay off a debt with work. It's similar to indentured servitude as workers are bound by their debts.