This article introduces a special issue on economic systems and everyday abuses of labour rights. In recent decades, neoliberal policies have transformed both the world economy and the world of work. Hard-won rights and protections have been eroded by deregulation, outsourcing, and subcontracting. New forms of unstable, isolated, and insecure work have emerged. This introduction examines the driving forces behind the increasing prominence of precarious work, the accelerating role of migrant labour within global economic systems, and the political relationship between everyday abuses and forms of severe exploitation which have recently come to be defined as human trafficking and modern slavery. We argue that a singular focus upon individual cases of extreme exploitation is unlikely to be effective, and can also draw attention away from the larger systems, interests, and abuses that are associated with the smooth and regular operations of the global economy. We also suggest that at least some of the energies which have recently been expended debating the contentious category of ‘modern slavery’ could be usefully redirected towards lower profile interventions concerned with worker and migrant rights. There are never going to be simple or straightforward solutions to labour abuses, so it is necessary to take many bumpy paths simultaneously, with small steps forward and some steps backward.

中文翻译：

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社论：从特殊情况到日常虐待：全球经济中的劳动力剥削

本文介绍了有关经济体系和日常滥用劳工权利的特刊。近几十年来，新自由主义政策改变了世界经济和劳动世界。来之不易的权利和保护已因放松管制，外包和分包而受到侵蚀。不稳定，孤立和不安全的工作出现了新形式。本导论探讨了不稳定工作日益突出的驱动力，全球经济体系中移民劳动力的加速作用以及日常虐待和严重剥削形式之间的政治关系，最近将其定义为人口贩运和现代奴隶制。我们认为，仅关注极端剥削的个别案例不太可能有效，并且还可以将注意力从与全球经济的平稳和正常运作相关的更大的系统，利益和滥用上转移。我们还建议，至少最近在辩论“现代奴隶制”这一有争议的范畴上花费的一些精力，可以有益地转向针对工人和移民权利的低调干预。永远不会有简单或直接的解决劳工滥用问题的方法，因此有必要同时走许多坎bump的道路，向前走一小步，向后走几步。我们还建议，至少最近在辩论“现代奴隶制”这一有争议的范畴上花费的一些精力可以被有效地转向针对与工人和移民权利有关的低调干预。永远不会有简单或直接的解决劳工滥用问题的方法，因此有必要同时走许多坎bump的道路，向前走一小步，向后走几步。我们还建议，至少最近在辩论“现代奴隶制”这一有争议的范畴上花费的一些精力，可以有益地转向针对工人和移民权利的低调干预。永远不会有简单或直接的解决劳工滥用问题的方法，因此有必要同时走许多坎bump的道路，向前走一小步，向后走几步。