Labour Controls, Unfreedom and Perpetuation of Slavery on a Tea Plantation

Shahadat, Khandakar; Uddin, Shahzad

Abstract

This article examines labour controls in traditional tea plantations in Bangladesh. This study finds how social and economic exclusion through discriminatory labour laws and labour–manager relations rooted in the ‘coolie’ system have built a captive workforce separated from the mainstream workforce. This ultimately produces and reproduces slavery–laden labour controls. An opaque but punitive incentive system, sunset-sunrise working hours, maximum engagement, and the restrictions of promotion to managerial posts are constant reminders of the historically rooted indentured labour system. This article contributes to understanding modern slavery in an organisational context and the obstacles that prevent ‘free’ labourers from walking away from exploitative conditions. Organisational sites such as tea plantations present clear examples of how specific types of labour control restrict freedom of choice and produce ‘willing slaves’.

Citation

Shahadat, K., & Uddin, S. (in press). Labour Controls, Unfreedom and Perpetuation of Slavery on a Tea Plantation. Work, employment & society : a journal of the British Sociological Association, https://doi.org/10.1177/09500170211021567

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 2, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jul 23, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 23, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 27, 2021
• Journal: Work, Employment and Society
• Print ISSN: 0950-0170
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-8722
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09500170211021567
• Keywords: Bangladesh; Labour control; Slavery; Tea plantation; Unfreedom
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3809290