Indentured Servitudes of the Indians and the Chinese

This chapter explores the resurgence of indentured servitude following the Transatlantic Slave Trade and African slavery, within the framework of the global post-slavery economy. This revived system targeted labor from Asia, particularly India, and China, with European colonial powers deploying millions of Asian workers across their colonies worldwide. Despite its designation as voluntary labor, Asian indentured servitude bore striking resemblances to traditional slavery. Historical documentation exposes recruitment methods characterized by coercion and deception, contracts lacking in voluntariness, transportation, and plantation treatment akin to slavery, and plantation owners’ frequent disregard for contractual obligations.