The Global Slavery Index estimates that on any given day in 2016 there were nearly 18 million people living in modern slavery in India. In terms of the prevalence of modern slavery in India, there were 6.1 victims for every thousand people.
When we think about slavery, many of us still believe that classic traditional forms of slavery, that we read in books where indigenous black population from Africa was grabbed from their homes and forcefully shipped transatlantic to work rigorously for a lifetime. The horrendous images of their exploitation still haunt our minds.
With the abolition of slavery and the development of society, we believe that this inhumane practice was a thing of the past and unfortunately, most of us are unaware of how slavery is still persistent and has camouflaged itself in modern ways. Today’s global slave trade is so lucrative that this money-spinning ill-practice nets traffickers more than $150 billion each year.
Though there is a huge percentage of people thrown into slavery by human traffickers, loan providers, etc. but not all forms of slavery are forced. There is a huge percentage of people forced to make that choice because of extreme poverty, poor capitalist practices, etc. The lack of necessary income to feed oneself and their family forces people to sell themselves. Moreover, the slave trade is not limited to an age group, race, ethnicity, or gender.
The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is celebrated on August 23 of each year; the day is designated by UNESCO to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade.
Do you Know?
India has the highest number of slaves in the world, with estimates ranging from 14 million to 18 million people.
In today’s capitalist world the tough competition and desire to earn more money often demands business operations and corporate practices that are driven by a constant search for low input prices and high profits. This results in the exploitation of ground-level workers who are constantly compelled to work for long hours on low wages and poor working conditions. Some businesses deny basic amenities to employees like washroom breaks forget about any kind of perks. Though these employees might not be categorized as slaves, but their working conditions are comparable if not worse than slaves.
How can we as a consumer change this?
We as ordinary citizens can use our consumer purchasing power while choosing the products we buy after researching them well, especially how a particular company treats its ground-level workers. By turning consumers into the moral compass of fast-paced capitalism, we can make profit-driven businesses rethink and evaluate their business practices and make them undermine their reliance on the forced labor and poor employment practices. We can make them use consumer self-interest to shift the market towards morally and ethically acceptable production and distribution standards. While products that are fair trade and ethically produced might be more expensive, buying fair trade means that, for a few extra pennies, we are contributing to a sustainable future. It means empowering a future generation to continue to produce a better lifestyle while protecting the environment to meet ever-growing demands.
Importance Of Fair Trade and Ethical Capitalism
Around the world, millions of farmers and workers are fighting for a fair deal – nearly three billion people live on less than 100 INR a day. Ethical standards and values are higher than ever in the list of consumer priorities. It is becoming increasingly apparent that there is a demand for sustainable options, with many wanting to know that brands are taking a stand against global issues such as poverty, waste, and unfair trade.
Ethical Capitalism enables consumers to demand a better deal for those that work on the ground level to let us enjoy a better lifestyle. By choosing brands that are concerned about their employees and not supporting modern slavery, consumers can demand the highest standards from business and government, ensuring people and the planet are not exploited to create the products we enjoy. While choosing a more thoughtful and contemporary lifestyle, you can ensure that no forced or illegal child labor has been used. These goods also give producers a fair price for their produce, thus helping to challenge the unfair trading systems that keep people in poverty and often force them into slavery.
"On 23 August, we honor the memory of the men and women who, revolted and paved the way for the end of slavery and dehumanization. We honor their memory and that of all the other victims of the slave trade and slavery, for whom they stand. Once and for all, it is time to abolish human exploitation and to recognize the equal and unconditional dignity of each and every individual on Earth. Today, let us remember the victims and freedom fighters of the past so that they may inspire future generations to build just societies."
— Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, Message on the occasion of the International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
Mianzi: Ethical Home Décor which supports their Employees
Mianzi advocates Fair Trade and ethical capitalism. Not only do we make sure that all craftsmen & women, artisans, and each employee works no more than 45 hours a week and gets fair wages but they are provided with proper holidays, paid leaves, sick leaves, picnics, family days, and several other benefits. Our artisans are passionate about their work and we make sure that they enjoy every moment of their work. The cordial relationship and sharing of stories and ideas related to product designs make each Mianzi product a personal journey with vivid stories which are rich in memories of the past and translation of the future. You can explore ethically handmade, sustainable Mianzi products at www.mianzi.in.