This article examines labour controls in traditional tea plantations in Bangladesh. This study finds how social and economic exclusion through discriminatory labour laws and labour–manager relations rooted in the ‘coolie’ system have built a captive workforce separated from the mainstream workforce. This ultimately produces and reproduces slavery–laden labour controls. An opaque but punitive incentive system, sunset-sunrise working hours, maximum engagement, and the restrictions of promotion to managerial posts are constant reminders of the historically rooted indentured labour system. This article contributes to understanding modern slavery in an organisational context and the obstacles that prevent ‘free’ labourers from walking away from exploitative conditions. Organisational sites such as tea plantations present clear examples of how specific types of labour control restrict freedom of choice and produce ‘willing slaves’.

本文考察了孟加拉国传统茶园的劳工控制。本研究发现，社会和经济排斥如何通过歧视性劳动法和根植于“苦力”制度的劳资关系建立起与主流劳动力分离的俘虏劳动力。这最终会产生和再生产充满奴隶制的劳工控制。不透明但惩罚性的激励制度、日落-日出的工作时间、最大参与度以及晋升管理职位的限制，不断提醒人们历史根深蒂固的契约劳工制度。本文有助于理解组织背景下的现代奴隶制以及阻止“自由”劳动者摆脱剥削条件的障碍。