Introduction

Slavery is the most exploitative form of oppression, because oppressed workers are compelled by threats to do as they are told with little reward beyond basic food and drink and shelter. ‘Neo-slavery’ is a term to which some might object, because employees cannot be formally defined as slaves, in that they are free individuals and not the property of another, as they have the ability to remove themselves from unacceptable situations. Slavery and neo-slavery benefit the ruling elite and the owners of capital, who shape the demand for labour and the forms through which labour is engaged. Many of the contributions to this edition explore the realities of modern slavery and neo-slavery that blight the lives of millions of the in-work poor. Overt slavery was made illegal in most developed countries in the world in the 19th century, yet slavery exists around the globe, including in the United Kingdom.