Colonization and coloniality: Structural Continuities in the Migration and Exploitation of Latin American Workers

Abstract

The colonization of Latin America established enduring relations of economic, racial, and social domination that continue to operate in contemporary times under the logic of coloniality. These structural continuities continue to produce inequalities that drive Latin American migration flows, especially in contexts of poverty, political instability, and labor precarization. In Brazil, Latin American migrants are predominantly employed in urban sectors characterized by informality, outsourcing, and systematic violations of rights. Notably, in this context are the sewing workshops in the city of São Paulo, where Bolivian workers are often subjected to conditions akin to slavery. At the same time, the article engages with the case of a Black Brazilian domestic worker, highlighting how the colonial legacy also shapes exploitative relations in domestic and racialized labor. The analysis also considers the role of the Center for Migrant Support and Pastoral Care (CAMI) as a space for reception, guidance, and combating contemporary slave labor, revealing the persistence of human rights violations in urban production dynamics.