Except they were being paid minimum wage; and there was no aspect of bondage other than complete isolation; and no one was being cruel; nor were children involved, I've seen working conditions like those described in the OP, in Alaska. The same hours, the same backbreaking labor with hands in ice cold wet.
The people I saw were from all parts of the globe. They were on six month contracts, and they were forced to take six weeks vacation in their home countries before they were allowed to reenlist for another six month contract. Airfare was paid if contracts were completed, people could quit, or be fired, if they quit they had their round trip airfare deducted from wages, if they were fired the company paid the way. They punched a clock, minimum wage, and time and a half for overtime which tended to be about as many hours as straight time. They were covered under workman's comp, but no other befits.
Except the company housed them and fed them and had a nurse who dealt with minor medical problems, and a helicopter for fast flights to a hospital.
As I was reading I could feel the pain. I don't doubt the cruel slavery bondage described. I wondered how an outside reporter would describe some of the shore plants I've seen scattered about the Aleutian Islands.
What I noticed most was no report was given about the working conditions involved with the growing and harvesting of the shrimp. Without a report about it I can only wonder about the wet hell hiding out in the swamp. Where a reporter would need a boat to go.
I noticed the comments below the story, these two stood out:
Quote:
Marek Gazda
It's amazing that Thailand is allowed in the TPP...the seminal agreement which "protects" labor rights. /s
James Charles O'Donnell III
And THIS is the "business model" that President Obama is willing to overlook in order to get the TPP passed (so the corporations can enslave the rest of us)! Didn't his State Department have to revise its definition of SLAVERY in order to move the TPP closer to passage? (YES, it did.)
Thailand is not a signatory in the TPP. The TPP by coming into existence isolates Thailand in the world market, that puts considerable pressure on them to clean up their act. Clearly the Thai government is complicit in this human trafficking.