POVERTY AND MIGRATION

AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELEVANCE OF CONTEMPORARY SLAVE LABOR IN PORTUGAL

Resumo

Contemporary forms of slavery encompass typologies of exploitation such as forced labour, child labour, and servitude. They are part of the global production cycle that, despite efforts to address this problem, takes advantage of the conditions of people struggling to meet basic needs. In a context in which the worker is subject to increasing workloads, in conditions that continually deteriorate, and with around 50% of the world's population living below the poverty line, the search for better opportunities, the escape from poverty, and the arrival of refugees in Europe exposes this vulnerable population to jobs that affront human dignity. The State is the institution with the power, resources, and legitimacy to face these issues, and it should perceive the protection of the worker, regardless of their origin and condition, as a priority, not as an offence to economic growth. Thus, a qualitative approach was chosen, which analyses the legislative power's perception of contemporary slave labour in its scope of action and decision, based on the legislative speeches in the XIII and XIV legislatures. Portugal has ratified the main international conventions, protocols and pacts that affect what is called contemporary slavery. However, it is more recurrent to find references to precariousness than the designation of contemporary slavery, which does not mean that the problem does not exist, just as it may represent a low incidence or less violent form that would receive less attention. According to the Observatório do Tráfico de Seres Humanos (Observatory of Trafficking in Human Beings), the country continues to be a destination for THB, mainly for labour exploitation. These are citizens of various nationalities deprived of rights, subject to intense workloads and living in undignified conditions. The Relatório Anual de Segurança Interna 2021 (Annual Homeland Security Report) reinforces this idea by pointing out that labour exploitation in Portugal mainly involves workers recruited for seasonal campaigns on farms. The point to be observed is that the problem already existed when the Covid-19 pandemic exposed the conditions of migrant workers, victims of labour exploitation in the agricultural fields of Odemira in southern Portugal. Furthermore, the media in Portugal has many references that the problem exists and is getting worse. Contributing to this is the lack of resources, insufficient inspection, and impunity, among others, present in any country facing such situations. The reading of the speeches so far indicates two main perspectives. On one side are the discourses in which recruiting companies and farms should take responsibility for the conditions of deprivation to which workers are exposed. But on the other hand, there are discourses defending agriculture and wealth creation, the victimization of rural business, and the idea of abusive generalization. Occasionally, the issue's essence falls to the background amidst mutual accusations about who is (or was) government and opposition, who supported (or did not) something. Yet, notwithstanding discussions and accusations are part of the political debate, migrant workers whose most basic rights are violated cannot submerge into waiting for a solution.