The term "indentured labor" in this context proves misleading, as both slavery and indentured labor were accompanied by coercion, repression, and structural inequality. Therefore, indentured labor cannot be viewed in isolation from the history of slavery but must be understood as a continuation of it within the colonial system.
In the Netherlands the Collectief Contractarbeid, a cooperation between the Hindustani, Chinese and Javanese descendants of the indentured laborers aims to raise awareness about their history in their own communities as well as in the Dutch society. The view is that the history of indentured labor in Suriname is an integral part of Dutch history and therefore deserves equal academic and public attention alongside other aspects of Dutch history.
This requires a sound knowledge of this past. The Collectief Contractarbeid aims to bring this to the fore, with the cooperation of the Anton de Kom Chair at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The aim of the forthcoming conference is twofold: to have an inventory of academic research done on indentured labor and to build a global network of scientists and scholars active in this field. We hope that this will also bring about insights into gaps in the research. Academic networks are requested to identify national and international experts in this field who will be invited to have a role in the conference.
This will be of significant benefit to communities of descendants of indentured laborers around the world!
The audience will consist of scholars and experts, supplemented by stakeholders from the communities affiliated with indentured labor. The conference is seen as a first, important step in bridging the gap between indentured labor, the history of slavery, and the broader colonial system, with the aim of stimulating further research.
From the Anton de Kom Chair, Professor Guno Jones will, in his keynote, highlight slavery and indentured labor as colonial systems of forced unfree and bonded labour and position indentured labor as a continuation of the slavery past.
The conference has two concrete outcomes:
1. A platform for knowledge exchange and dialogue between researchers, experts, and communities.
2. An overview of existing research on contract labor and the development of an international network around this topic.
Workshops will be hosted by: Dr. Kirtie Algoe, Prof. Dr. C. Choenni, Prof. em. David Dabydeen, dr. Jaswina Elahi, Prof. Rozemarijn Hoefte, Prakash Jankipersad, Prakash Kumar Jha, Founder & Director of the Pravasi Setu Foundation, Koen van der Lijn (researcher into Chinese indentured labor at Leiden University), Fresco Sam-Sin (heritage specialist, writing a book on Chinese indentured labor), Tanya Sitaram, Rita Tjien Fooh, Kitlyn Tjin A Djie, Carla Tjon, Prof. Nira Wickramasinghe and Ference Wongsokario-Nojotaroeno.
Practical information:
• The conference will be organized in a hybrid format (in person and online), allowing international experts to participate.
• The conference language will be English.
• The target attendance in person is approximately 120–150 people.
• Date: June 20, 2026. The time will be 13:30 – 17:30 Dutch time, at the Vrije Universiteit, Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, room HG 14A00
• Mail contact: info@collectiefcontractarbeid.org