Scrooge
Newbie
Posts: 4
|
 |
« on: December 14, 2010, 02:57:32 PM » |
|
National service (which was military only, except for conscientious objectors) was abolished in the UK in the early 1960s. There have been
calls for its return ever since, though usually in the form of a civilian force.
More recently the government is considering forcing welfare claimants to work - without paying them a minimum wage, just their welfare benefit.
Is this slavery? It's clearly forced labour. Does slavery necessarily mean work without wages? In the Roman empire, some slaves WERE paid - in fact some of them earned enough to have slaves themselves. They were, however, not free to seek employment with another master.
Up till the 19th century, British workers only had limited freedom of movement - if they left their job without consent they could be charged with a criminal offence, rather than a mere breach of contract.
Of course millions of people are obliged to stay in jobs they hate, through lack of any attractive alternative. Is this slavery? It's certainly called that in extreme cases (eg domestic servants who are illegal immigrants)
|
Poll
