What was indentured Labourers ?How were indentured labourers hired fro...
A bonded labour under contract to work for an employment under contract to work for an employer for a specific amount of time, to pay off his passage to a new country or home is called indentured labour......... In India , indentured labourers were hired under contract which promised return travel to India after they had worked five years on employer 's plantation... Most Indian Indentured labour were from present day UP, Bihar ,Central India and dry regions of Tamil Nadu...
What was indentured Labourers ?How were indentured labourers hired fro...
Indentured laborers were individuals who entered into a contractual agreement, known as an indenture, to work for a specific period of time in exchange for passage to a different country or some form of payment. This system was prevalent during the 19th and early 20th centuries and played a significant role in the global movement of labor.
Indentured laborers from India and China were hired through various processes, which can be explained as follows:
1. Recruitment:
- Indian laborers: Agents known as "arkatis" were employed to recruit laborers from rural areas of India. They would visit villages and convince individuals to sign an agreement to work overseas.
- Chinese laborers: The recruitment process for Chinese laborers was more centralized. The Chinese government established agencies called "tongxianghui" to organize and regulate the recruitment of laborers.
2. Contracts:
- Indian laborers: Once recruited, Indian laborers signed a contract known as the "passage agreement" with the employer or the recruiting agent. This agreement outlined the terms and conditions of their employment, including the duration of the indenture, wages, and living conditions.
- Chinese laborers: Chinese laborers also signed contracts, known as "kongsi contracts," which specified the terms of their employment. These contracts were often written in Chinese and had to be approved by both the Chinese and receiving country's authorities.
3. Journey:
- Indian laborers: After signing the passage agreement, Indian laborers traveled to the port city from where they would embark on the journey to their destination country. They were often housed in barracks or depots until their departure.
- Chinese laborers: Chinese laborers were usually sent to a central depot in the receiving country, where they would undergo medical examinations and receive basic training before being dispersed to their respective employers.
4. Working Conditions:
- Indian laborers: Indentured laborers from India were primarily employed in plantations, mines, or construction projects. They faced harsh working conditions, long hours, and minimal wages.
- Chinese laborers: Chinese laborers were also employed in similar industries as the Indian laborers. They endured challenging working conditions and were often subjected to discriminatory treatment.
5. Termination of Indenture:
- Indian laborers: At the end of their indenture period, Indian laborers were promised a return passage to India. However, many chose to stay in the receiving country, leading to the establishment of significant Indian diaspora communities.
- Chinese laborers: The indentured period for Chinese laborers varied depending on the specific agreement. Some returned to China, while others continued to live and work in the receiving country.
Overall, the recruitment and hiring of indentured laborers from India and China involved a complex process that exploited the laborers and contributed to the migration and diaspora of these communities.
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