Slavery is not just forced labor, it's officially accepted arbitrary power of some people over lives of other people, treating people like cattle. It sadly does

Slavery is not just forced labor, it's officially accepted arbitrary power of some people over lives of other people, treating people like cattle. It sadly does still exist, but in really small pockets, and is universally deemed unacceptable. Terrible conditions are much more widespread. But, unlike slavery, this is not forced labor, and it's paid. If handled correctly, giving these people jobs lifts them from poverty. China is probably the biggest example. But the problem of cultures living in abject poverty is usually not just in the lack of resources, but in predatory and embezzling power structures. Humankind produces more than enough food to feed everyone well; all occurrences of famine are either natural catastrophes or, often on top of theses, of supplies being appropriated and held by local overlords in order to maintain their privileged position, plebs be damned. Not buying from oppressive regimes does not help the oppressed; buying from oppressive regimes does not help them either. But at least boycotting oppressors gives them less resources to use for strengthening their chokehold.