You've invited: Debt bondage and modern slavery - a film screening and panel discussion hosted by the Sustainable Futures Hub, Massey University
Join us for a powerful evening of film and discussion as we confront the realities of debt bondage, a pervasive form of modern slavery affecting millions worldwide.
The event will feature a screening of the short film Of Labour and Love, which intimately portrays the lives of two labourers in Indian brick kilns, bound by debt to their employers and local lenders. Their stories reveal the harsh disciplinary power of debt and the human cost of exploitative labour systems.
Following the screening a panel of experts will respond to the film, offering insights into the broader implications of debt and modern slavery across diverse global contexts. This symposium invites critical reflection and dialogue on the systemic forces that perpetuate exploitation - and the pathways to justice and change.
This is a free public event. All are welcome.
Presenter
Omer Nazir produced Of Labour and Love, a research-based film produced as part of his research at Massey University. His work uses visual ethnography to uncover the lived realities of debt-bonded labourers. Through this form Omer explores how systems of debt and power shape modern slavery - and how creative scholarship can inspire reflection and change.
Panel Members
Professor Janet Sayers, School of Management and Marketing, Massey Business School
Dr. Janet Sayers critiques business challenges in novel and engaging ways to help shift practice towards more sustainable and ethical relations with each other and the larger ecology. Dr. Sayers' work is wide-ranging as she often helps her students publish into industry journals. She is an Associate Editor of the journal Gender, Work and Organisation and is currently co-editing a Routledge series on women writers and organisational studies.
Georgie Craw, Communications Lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa
Georgie’s work is grounded in the understanding that our economic system sits at the root of our interconnected crises - but because the economy is a product of design, it can be redesigned to prioritise wellbeing for people and planet. Georgie previously worked as a historian at the Waitangi Tribunal and as Executive Officer at Child Poverty Action Group. She is a proud māmā to one.
Omer Nazir, School of Management and Marketing. Massey Business School
Omer’s research critically examines the intersections of technology, labour, and ethics within global capitalism. Drawing on critical management studies, political economy, and Foucauldian theory, his work explores modern slavery, debt bondage, and the socio-economic impacts of technology in global supply chains. He seeks to illuminate hidden forms of organisational violence and advance socially informed, justice-oriented approaches to management and policy.
Facilitator and chair
Professor Nitha Palakshappa, School of Management and Marketing, Massey Business School
Nitha leads the Massey Business School Sustainable Futures Hub. The Hub provides a forum for business, government and society to understand the importance of ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability initiatives/strategies in enhancing reputation, profitability, and competitiveness.