The slave-trade mentality in modern employment

By Samuel Jekeli

Although the legal institution of slavery was abolished long ago, its mentality has not been completely erased from modern workplaces. In many societies today, a troubling attitude persists among some employers one that mirrors the logic of the slave trade. This mindset reduces human beings to tools for profit, treats employees with disdain, and justifies paying wages that are insufficient for a dignified life. At its core is the desire not for free, thinking workers, but for obedient laborers who endure exploitation in silence.

One of the clearest signs of this mentality is the deliberate payment of salaries that cannot sustain workers through a full month. Employers are often fully aware that the wages they offer cannot cover basic needs such as rent, food, transportation, healthcare, and education. Yet they continue to justify these wages in the name of “cost-cutting,” “market realities,” or “company survival.” This justification echoes the slave-trade logic in which the well-being of laborers was never a concern, as long as productivity was maintained. When a worker must constantly borrow money, live in debt, or sacrifice basic necessities despite working full-time, that worker is not truly free.

Closely tied to low wages is the culture of disrespect and disdain. In workplaces shaped by this mentality, employees are spoken to harshly, excluded from decision-making, and treated as disposable. Their opinions are dismissed, their time is abused, and their personal lives are seen as inconveniences. This attitude reflects an underlying belief that workers are inferior existing only to serve the interests of the employer. Much like enslaved people were denied dignity and voice, modern employees under such systems are expected to endure humiliation as part of their job.

Another disturbing feature of this mindset is the preference for submissive workers over competent, independent ones. Some employers deliberately avoid hiring employees who are confident, knowledgeable, or aware of their rights. Instead, they seek individuals who are desperate, fearful of unemployment, and unlikely to challenge unfair treatment. Such employers equate obedience with loyalty and see critical thinking as a threat. In doing so, they recreate a master servant dynamic, where control matters more than collaboration and compliance is valued above creativity.

This mentality also manifests in excessive working hours without fair compensation. Employees are expected to be available at all times, respond to messages outside working hours, and sacrifice rest and family life all without overtime pay. Refusing these demands is often framed as laziness or ingratitude. This mirrors the slave system, where labor had no boundaries and exhaustion was normalized. The modern version may be dressed in corporate language, but the underlying assumption remains the same: the employer owns the worker’s time and energy.

The psychological impact of this system is severe. Workers subjected to constant financial stress, disrespect, and overwork often experience anxiety, depression, and burnout. Over time, they may internalize the belief that they deserve such treatment or that no better alternative exists. This emotional control is another parallel to slavery, where domination was maintained not only through physical force but through mental conditioning and fear.

It is important to recognize that this mentality does not benefit society in the long run. Underpaid and demoralized workers cannot perform at their best, innovate, or contribute meaningfully to economic growth. Inequality deepens, social tension rises, and trust between employers and employees erodes. A system that relies on exploitation ultimately weakens itself.

Breaking free from this slave-trade mentality requires a fundamental shift in how work and workers are valued. Employers must recognize employees as partners, not property, as human beings with rights, aspirations, and dignity. Fair wages, respectful communication, reasonable working hours, and opportunities for growth are not acts of generosity; they are obligations. Likewise, workers must be empowered through education, labor laws, and collective action to resist exploitation.

True progress is not measured by profit alone, but by how humanely that profit is made. Until employers abandon the desire for “modern slaves” and embrace the principle of shared dignity, the shadow of the slave trade will continue to haunt the world of work.

•Jekeli, a Human Resources Professional, writes from FCT, Abuja