JulianTapales

My point is that an hourly rate can be exploitative even if it is the highest in the area.

If $5/hr is an exploitative rate, then it's exploitation regardless of whether the the area is worse off or not

Just because they would be better off with it doesn’t mean it’s not exploitative. The problem is the lack of non exploitative alternatives. You can argue a life of exploitation is better than starving to death but I’d say even that is up for debate.