When the word slavery is being mentioned, most people often imagine those that were being caged, chained, beaten, and sold out. It was so in the past, no doubt; maybe it still is in vogue, I can't say, but certain history books detail that it ended a long time ago. I won't be dwelling on that, as I am not so much of the history type. But to me, slavery still exists, right here in our surroundings; it's just that it has changed face. It does not look like the definition of slavery back in those days, but its presence is very obvious in our system.
The way slavery shows up in our modern day looks legal...at least on the surface, but it's a means of exploiting others of their voice, benefits, and freedom. Let's take, for example, a housemaid. We also refer to them as domestic workers. Most of these people are employed by very rich people, yet they are treated in inhumane ways. Hearing what most of them had to go through, seeing what most of them face and all... it's heartbreaking. Most of them are treated even worse than a pet; they work round the clock, and guess what...their pay is low, they don't have time for themselves, and they don't have freedom either. It is slavery, but nobody actually calls it that.
Likewise, we have forced labor via poverty. In today's world, what most people find themselves doing isn't what they want; many people take up jobs under very terrible conditions. Why? Because there isn't any other choice, and as the saying goes...Man must chop. From all the big companies to the small ones, to the farms and all, what they pay to these workers isn't even enough to survive. But still, these people have no choice; they stay and work under those terrible conditions and get paid as if...even the way some of them are being talked down on and bashed with words...no different from a person in slavery. Some of these people are even in very big debts, so they continue working tirelessly.
Not to forget those kids that should be in school but are busy hawking goods on the streets and on dangerous roads; they call it survival, I call it slavery. These kids childhoods and futures are being stolen/taken away from them at a very tender age at that, and you say it's not slavery...? Let's talk about human trafficking too; the young ones are being deceived today about a greener pasture abroad. And when they finally get there, they either get trapped in prostitution or are forced into something else. The law says slavery doesn't exist, that it has been abolished, but then these traffickers continue trading under these weak systems of ours...
And to the question about why it is still happening, the answer is very simple.... Poverty and greed. For as long as we have people who are desperate for shelter, food...for a means of survival, trust me, there will always be someone or a system ready to exploit them. The laws in the country too are weak; as long as we have people who seem to be above the law, these will continue. Corruption is everywhere in our society as well, and it has weakened the justice system. Tell me, why don't the exploiters keep on gaining ground?
Also about if slavery can be completely eradicated...hmmm, that is a huge one. I wouldn't say it is impossible, but believe me, it will be very hard. First and foremost, people must come to the realization that slavery is not a thing of the past; it still exists. Secondly, the government shouldn't just create laws; the laws must work. They should punish these traffickers, protect the vulnerable, and enforce fair wages/salaries. Thirdly, education: allow these children to be educated. An educated individual wouldn't just get swayed into anything anyhow; he/she would be less likely to end up in the hands of these people. And lastly, the community, the community also has a great role to play in all of these.
Slavery today is not physical, people are still being tied down. The way they get exploited and bashed is even worse than using the cane on them as it was in the past. Effective laws, action, courage, and compassion is what we need today, as our laws are only effective where they are being written....in that paper, and even if it acts, it is always on those who don't have a voice, on that same people who are exploited.
Images were generated using AI.
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