Wage labor of Melanesians in Fiji in the 19th century

The purpose of this research is to study the conditions of the emergence of Melanesian wage labor in Fiji in the 19th century and attempts to control it by the local government and the British government. The article examines the political, economic and social reasons for the recruitment and use of both the indigenous Fijian population and imported workers from other islands of Melanesia. The author suggests a conditional division of the study period into two stages based on the economic and political factors that led to the hiring of labor. The first agreements between European traders and Fijian chiefs on the provision of labor are being investigated. The processes of hiring and working conditions of Melanesians on plantations are described. The article observes the beginning of illegal labor trade in the region. An assessment of the systems of legislation aimed at controlling the trade in labor is given. The work includes the views of government officials and the public on the issue of bonded labor of hired workers. A conclusion is drawn about the causes and consequences of the exploitation of the indigenous peoples of Melanesia in both the pre-colonial and colonial periods of Fiji's 19th century history. The author points out the imperfection of the UK legislative system in the control of labor trafficking in the Pacific region.