There is a technical legal distinction between the status of these people those referred to as "slaves" during the colonial era.

But at the end of the day (and from the point of view of those directly affected), it's a fairly picayune one. And to deny, from the safety of the comfortable and protected position where we sit, that it isn't basically the modern, moral equivalent of slavery is to dodge the key issue at hand, and seems quite callous to the suffering of those affected.