Labor Day Reflection: From Taj Mahal to Trump Tower
By Khurram Iqbal
Humanity has come a long way since the days when thousands of laborers toiled endlessly under oppressive rulers. Whether it was the construction of the Egyptian pyramids, the magnificent Taj Mahal, or the countless castles and palaces of Europe, the lives of those who built these wonders were often marked by suffering. Throughout recorded history, millions of human laborers have been exploited, working day and night to realize the dreams of kings, clergy, and emperors.
The history of labor is one of hardship, often marked by the servitude of peasants and slaves under feudalism and colonialism. The exploitation was as vast as the empires that ruled over them. In recent history, we’ve seen an undeniable shift in this paradigm. Industrial revolutions in Europe and America began to emancipate the worker from the fields, although only to place them in the factories. Slavery was abolished in many parts of the world, and the feudal system slowly eroded.
However, the progress has been hard-fought and gradual. In Russia, the czars controlled millions of serfs who were essentially slaves. In France, the royalty luxuriated while the masses of laborers toiled in poverty, as famously captured in the French Revolution. Even as slavery was abolished, the vestiges of this exploitation persisted. The industrial revolution brought about new forms of labor exploitation in factories—women in Chicago, for instance, were forced to work 10-hour days, 7 days a week, in the 1950s under harsh conditions.
Generational Debt and Social Immobility: A Global Reality
Even as we’ve made significant progress in labor rights, we cannot ignore the new forms of exploitation that persist today. In the corporate world, labor laws are often bypassed in the pursuit of profit. Many companies outsource their labor to countries with weak or non-existent labor laws. Sweatshops in China, India, and Bangladesh are well-known examples, where employees work in inhumane conditions, deprived of the basic rights they are entitled to under international labor standards.
In countries like Pakistan and others, laborers in brick factories are trapped in a cycle of generational debt. These workers, often from the poorest strata of society, are forced to take loans for survival, repaid through labor that passes the burden down to future generations. Domestic servants, numbering in millions, face a similar fate, with little hope for social mobility due to oppressive regimes and weak legal protections.
The Cruel Legacy of the Taj Mahal’s Builders
One of the most painful examples of labor exploitation comes from the construction of the Taj Mahal. While celebrated as one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements, it carries a dark history. The masons and artisans who labored to create this marvel were reportedly subjected to horrific treatment. According to a popular, though contested, story, many of these workers had their hands amputated by order of Shah Jahan, the ruler who commissioned the Taj Mahal. This act of cruelty was intended to prevent them from replicating their work elsewhere, forever binding their legacy to the monument.
This brutal act serves as a stark reminder of how human creativity and labor have often been met with barbarity. The hands that built one of the world's most beautiful structures were silenced by violence—a painful example of exploitation that echoes through history.
Labor Exploitation in Modern Empires: The Trump Real Estate Case
The Trump real estate empire has faced numerous accusations of underpaying undocumented workers. For instance, in the 1980s, Polish immigrants, working illegally, were involved in the construction of Trump Tower under hazardous conditions and were paid significantly less than their legal counterparts. These practices reflect how large corporations and even influential figures may continue exploiting vulnerable workers with limited rights.
I remember a moment from my corporate career when I pointed out that young engineers in certain developing nations were being harassed and overworked in violation of international labor laws. The response I received was disheartening: "Do you want me to change their laws?" It was a stark reminder of how deeply ingrained the exploitation of labor remains, even in today's globalized world.
The Road Ahead: A Call for True Emancipation
While the labor exploited to build monuments like the Taj Mahal and the underpaid workers constructing modern empires like Trump Tower are in a better phase today, there's still much to be done. Global corporations must be held accountable for the conditions in which their outsourced workers labor. Additionally, brick laborers and domestic workers across the globe need international attention, as their struggles are often ignored or justified under corrupt systems.
We have made great strides since the days when laborers were simply seen as expendable, but true labor emancipation will only come when every worker, regardless of nationality, gender, or position, is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. As humanity continues to evolve, so too must our respect for the people whose hands build our empires.