Slaves everywhere

Slavery was banned in the world more than 150 years ago, but slaves are still found all over the world. Also in Iceland. The proportion of slaves is high in Iceland compared to the countries we compare ourselves to, and higher than it is, for example, in Brazil, the United States, and most Western European countries. This is, of course, a scandal. It is estimated that up to 50 million people are enslaved worldwide. The number of slaves has increased significantly in recent years. In Iceland, it is likely that there are around 400, according to a new international study conducted by Gallup globally. Four hundred is a high number in such a small country. Slaves in Iceland can be anywhere in the country.What are the slaves like?

Contemporary slaves are called Modern Slaves. These are both women, men, and children. An incredible number of children are Modern Slaves. But what is a Modern Slave?

• He can be bound in slavery due to debts he cannot pay. Thus, the employer binds him in slavery, makes him work without pay, without any rights, and without the possibility of going elsewhere. It is common for these slaves not to be able to pay off the debt, and thus slavery can be inherited by the slave's children.

• He can be forced by violence or coercion to work, often without receiving wages. This modern slave is more often than not an immigrant or refugee who is stuck in a foreign country, without any papers, and therefore cannot leave.

• He can be born into slavery. The family then belongs to a class of slaves. The status of Modern Slave is most often inherited from mother to child.

• He can be a child forced to work from dawn till dusk, e.g., in factory work or agricultural jobs, either in their home country or transported or sold to other countries for slave labor. Children are also used and sold as sex slaves. They are also forced into military service and are military slaves.

• He can also be a human trafficking slave. In that case, he is transported into slavery from one area to another.

• He can be a woman forced into marriage, often very young. And it can be a woman used as a sex slave from a young age. It is estimated that about 22 percent of Modern Slaves are sex slaves of both genders, with women being the majority.

[Image: image]

The Modern Slave cheaper than ever

The International Labour Organization ILO estimates that 90 percent of those who hold slaves are companies or individuals. These are companies and individuals in the private market. These companies and individuals earn enormous sums from their slaves, money on which no taxes or fees are paid. This is all illegal profit. The figures are outrageously high. According to figures from the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC, companies and individuals in the private sector are earning about 150 billion dollars a year from slavery. These are not new figures, so today's profits are greater and absolutely gigantic. It should also be noted that the Modern Slave has never been as cheap as he is today, and cheaper than he was centuries ago, according to data from the organization Free the Slaves.

The Modern Slave is a product of capitalism, of unbridled capitalism that sucks up more and more of the world's wealth. It is no coincidence that 90 percent of those who hold slaves are business owners and individuals in the private market. The wealthy and employers want more and more, to earn more and more, want more and more profit and bonuses. This is the nature of capitalism, to produce more and more to sustain itself and profit more and more. This is a bottomless pit. All means are used. Even slavery. And the number of slaves is increasing.

Fear of the obvious answer

Everyone can see that it is high time to stop this. Various international organizations have conducted many studies and pointed out that something needs to be done to prevent slavery. The International Trade Union Confederation ITUC even published a handbook on methods to eradicate slavery. But no one seems to dare to point to the obvious answer. This societal system that produces slaves must be abolished. In the current societal system, slavery continues to grow and thrive. It is not possible to order a capitalist to stop profiting if the structure of society creates opportunities for him to do so. No, we need socialism to change this. Socialism that encourages action and initiative in the labor market but does not create slaves. Socialism that respects all people and creates a society where everyone can thrive. Socialism where everyone enjoys the fruits of common resources. Socialism that encourages cooperation for a good society for all.

Slavery in Iceland is a growing concern for various parties in Iceland. In addition to what the aforementioned Gallup report says about the number of slaves in the country, it also states that Icelandic authorities are doing worse at combating slavery than the nations we compare ourselves to. Starfsgreinasamband Íslands, along with the Capital Region Police and Reykjavíkurborg, intend to take action and will host the conference "Modern Slavery" this autumn. A number of experts in law enforcement, prosecution, and victim protection will come from abroad to share their experiences. Robert Crepinko from Europol will also specifically address organized crime related to human trafficking in Europe.

Katrín Baldursdóttir