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A comment on Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor in China. Parent comment

Re:Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor i... by Alupis on Tuesday December 29, 2020 @07:49PM (#25577012)
You have an uphill battle to convince anyone being paid (any amount) for voluntary labor is akin to slave labor.
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Re:Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor i... by MereInterest on Tuesday December 29, 2020 @08:13PM (#25577185)
I take issue with describing it as "voluntary", when the alternative is a longer prison sentence. It is paid a pittance, and is effectively involuntary.
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Re:Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor i... by Alupis on Tuesday December 29, 2020 @08:36PM (#25577336)
> when the alternative is a longer prison sentence

That's simply untrue.

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Re:Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor i... by MereInterest on Tuesday December 29, 2020 @09:56PM (#25577924)
"Even though, in a lot of cases, it is technically voluntary, there can be serious consequences for people who refuse to work or who advocate for better working conditions because a lot of prisoners use working as a way of having their sentences reduced."

Source: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/884989263

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Re:Apple’s longtime supplier accused of using forced labor i... by Alupis on Tuesday December 29, 2020 @10:12PM (#25578010)
In that section of the article they are discussing labor internal to the prison, specifically maintenance and daily chores. Yes, it is true, while in prison you do not have a choice but to participate in that kind of labor and refusal will not help you be released early for "good behavior" or anything similar.

External labor, the kind discussed here - contracted by a 3rd party for money - is voluntary.

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