slave labour
"Slave labour" refers to work done under coercion, often with little or no compensation, and has been a significant issue in both historical and modern contexts.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2Human Rights
(technical, formal)Work performed under coercion or threat, without the worker's consent, typically under harsh conditions.
Example
- The factory was accused of using slave labour to produce its goods.
- Human rights organizations are fighting against slave labour practices around the world.
B2History
(academic, formal)A system where individuals are forced to work without compensation and are treated as property.
Example
- During the colonial era, many plantations relied on slave labour for their operations.
- Slave labour was a central part of the economy in ancient civilizations.
C1Sociology
(technical, formal)Labor performed by individuals who are held in servitude due to debt, trafficking, or other forms of exploitation.
Example
- Debt bondage is a modern form of slave labour affecting millions globally.
- Efforts to combat human trafficking aim to eradicate slave labour.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "slave labour":