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, which led to the guild's dissolvement.

Text and facts from the “Indentured servitude” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.