- "I'm not completely comfortable with the idea that the Empire is using slaves, sir."
"Terms are not always as they seem, Commander. They are called slaves, but they may in fact be indentured servants. They may be prisoners working off their sentence. They may have sold themselves into slavery as a means of repaying debts to others on their world. I have seen all those situations at times." - ―Eli Vanto and Thrawn discuss slavery, including indentured servitude
Indentured servitude was a form of contract in which an individual agreed to work without salary for a lender, selling their labor and freedom of movement for a set period of time—usually no fewer than seven years but sometimes up to three decades. These Indentures often came about when people desperate for employment met employers who were willing to capitalize on their desperation. Criminal organizations such as the members of the Hutt species built entire industries off of such practices but also shipping guilds such as the Byne Guild were no stranger to indentures as it increased profit for the guilds.
During the High Republic Era, indentures were authorized within companies that wanted to do work with the Galactic Republic, with only a few legal limits. For example, indentured servants could not be required to risk their own lives in the service of their lender. Although not as bad as slavery, that system still left people trapped for years in a life of unceasing and unrewarded labor. Affie Hollow reported the abuse of indentured workers within the Byne Guild to the Republic,[2] which led to the guild's dissolvement.[3]
Appearances[]
- The High Republic: Into the Dark (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- The High Republic: Out of the Shadows (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- The High Republic: The Fallen Star (and audiobook) (Mentioned only)
- Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss (and audiobook)
- Han Solo & Chewbacca 9 (Mentioned only)
- Return of the Jedi – Max Rebo 1 (In flashback(s))
The Mandalorian — "Chapter 7: The Reckoning" (Mentioned only)- The Mandalorian 7 (Mentioned only)
- Phasma (and audiobook) (First appearance)
