Good Honest Dollar $$

There are some issues in relation to which the rights of employees which may be open for genuine debate.

One right which is beyond debate however is that of freedom from slavery, a right which is (correctly) recognized under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 4).

Under no circumstances should any person be forced to work against their will, and the fact that an estimated twenty-seven million people were held in slavery as of 2007 (refer Wikipedia) is a crying shame.

 
Clarifying what I mean by ‘slaves’
For the purpose of this discussion, I feel that it is important to clarify exactly who I am talking about when I refer to a slave.

I am not talking about economic slavery – those who are bound to their employer by virtue of economic forces only.

Instead, I am talking about forced labor – those who are forced into servitude against their will, either by legal means or by the threat of repercussions in the event that the servitude in question is withheld.

 
Differentiating slaves from employees
In addition, I also feel that it is important to make some clear distinctions between a slave and an employee. These distinctions apply even an employee who feels bound to their employer by virtue of economic forces:

• Slaves, unlike employees, do not supply labor of their own free will.

• Slaves, unlike employees, are bound to a single master are not free to withdraw their labor. Nor are they free, unlike employees, to choose an alternative master.

• Slaves, unlike employees, are (in some cases) legally owned by another person.

• In most cases, slaves, unlike employees, do not receive financial compensation for their labor.

• Slaves, unlike employees, are tradable and can be bought and sold like commodities.

 
Low paid labor is not wrong – slavery is
There is a big difference, in my view, between the employment of cheap workers in low wage countries, and the use of slaves.

Slavery, by its nature, is inherently unethical. The use of low paid workers is not.

Don’t get me wrong, any abuses of the rights of low paid workers are unacceptable and should not be tolerated.  But the mere practice of choosing to employ low paid workers, whose services can be secured upon more advantageous terms for employers, is not necessarily unethical in itself.

The use of slaves, in contrast, is wrong under any circumstance in my view.

 
Why slavery is so wrong?
Why is slavery so wrong?

What is it, about the use of slaves, in particular, that sets it apart and makes it immoral?

Simply this – human dignity and respect.

Every person on planet earth has a fundamental right to be granted at least a minimum degree of dignity, value and respect. Surely, this means that no human being should ever be considered as merely the property of another.

Objects can be purchased, sold, owned like commodities, or otherwise treated as the property of another. So too can animals (although I believe that animals should have some rights)

But people are not objects or animals, and should not be owned or traded as such, and the right to supply labor on the basis of free will should be a fundamental right of every person.

 
Is slavery alright if slaves are well treated?
Some may feel that the way in which workers are treated is more important than the whether or not their labor is provided of their own free will.

There is a degree of validity in this point. Indeed, the bible, which I believe in and respect as the word of god, places considerably greater emphasis upon the treatment of slaves than the question of whether or not slavery should be allowed.

Without a doubt, fair treatment of workers in itself can never be a bad thing, regardless of their status as employees or slaves. Likewise, mistreatment is not acceptable under any circumstances.

Nevertheless, I cannot agree with any proposition which says that the ownership of slaves is acceptable under any circumstances, regardless of the treatment which they receive.

Ownership of another human being is wrong. Full stop – no matter what.

So too is mistreatment of workers – slaves or employees.

There is one way and one way only with respect to labor procurement in this context – fair treatment of workers whose labor is provided of their own free will.