We often think of slavery as something that happened in the past and has been abolished. But the sad truth is that slavery still exists today, known as neo-slavery. Although it may or may not appear to the naked eye in developed countries, it's happening right here in developing and least developed countries like Lebanon, Nigeria, China, etc.
One of the places where slavery is still occurring is in the software engineering industry. There are loads of reports of people being forced to work long hours for little to no pay, being housed in cramped and unsanitary conditions, and being threatened with violence if they try to leave. Take, for example, the 996-hour system. You can also take this guy as a primary example.
A while back, I received an email from one of my readers explaining how low he is getting paid. He had been working at his job for a year or so and was shocked to find out that he was also making way less than the minimum wage, a goddamn 1770$ per year. That's absolutely the definition of slavery in our modern society. You may think his company is breaking the law, and you are goddamn right. It is breaking the law by not paying him properly. A rule of thumb is that he should contact a lawyer and file a lawsuit against his employer.
While this story sounds exciting, it highlights an important issue: many workers are paid way below minimum wage. This is not only illegal, but it's also immoral. Workers should be paid a fair wage, regardless of their occupation. No one should have to worry about whether they will be able to make ends meet at the end of the week.
If you're one of the millions of workers struggling to make ends meet on a low wage, know that you're not alone. And know that there is hope. There are organizations fighting for better wages and working conditions for all workers. And there are politicians who are committed to raising the minimum wage and ensuring that all workers are paid a living wage. Unfortunately, this isn't happening in all countries, and some workers are left behind. We need to do better and everyone should have a chance to live a decent life.
This is a disgrace. Slavery has no place in our society, and we need to do everything we can to stamp it out. That includes shining a light on this issue and doing whatever we can to help those who have been trapped in this horrible situation.
So if you're feeling discouraged, remember that you're not alone and that there is hope for change. But, it would be best if you also remember to take actions. Peace!
Cover Image by Dr StClaire from Pixabay.
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