For the sake of accuracy, that was $750 in 1991, which is around ~$1350 adjusted for inflation. Minimum wage in '91 was ~$680 per month and my understanding is

For the sake of accuracy, that was $750 in 1991, which is around ~$1350 adjusted for inflation. Minimum wage in '91 was ~$680 per month and my understanding is these jobs came with room (crappy room) and board (also probably crappy). That doesn't take into account the extremely long hours they were forced to work, or the general working conditions which sound horrid, but I'm sure there are a few Americans who would take the job. That would of course require hiring Americans, and that's a hard sell when presented with a near endless supply of easily exploitable workers being imported into the country for this exact role.