EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS THROUGH UNFAIR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND FORCED LABOR

AUTHOR – HARSH PETNNA, STUDENT AT AMITY UNIVERSITY MAHARASTRA, MUMBAI

BEST CITATION – HARSH PETNNA, EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS THROUGH UNFAIR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND FORCED LABOR, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (7) OF 2025, PG. 878-889, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

This research examines worker exploitation through unfair contracts, wage theft, forced labor, and coercive practices, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like migrants, women, and low-skilled workers. Driven by poverty, weak legal protections, and corporate cost-cutting, these abuses persist due to global supply chains, informal economies, and inadequate enforcement. Unscrupulous recruitment agencies, deceptive employment practices, and a lack of legal awareness further entrench exploitation, leaving workers powerless to improve their conditions. By analyzing international conventions, domestic labor laws, and corporate policies, this study highlights regulatory gaps and the failure of enforcement mechanisms that allow these injustices to continue. It examines the role of multinational corporations, labor unions, and government agencies in addressing these challenges and emphasizes the urgent need for reform. The study advocates for greater transparency in supply chains, ethical recruitment, fair wages, and stronger legal frameworks to hold employers accountable.

Ultimately, this research underscores the importance of collective action—by governments, businesses, and civil society to end exploitative labor practices and ensure fair treatment, dignity, and justice for all workers.