Change in colonial labour policies

Colonial labor: Refers to African labor force used by colonialists in their colonial economic sectors like in Agriculture, mining, trade and commerce, industrial sector etc. During the colonial period i.e. soon after the Second World War (1939-1945). The colonialists emphasized on large quantity of raw materials and export commodities in the colonies so as to help the colonialists in economic recovery program in their metropolitan countries.

Techniques and mechanisms used to exploit colonial labour

1. Rehabilitation and creation of infrastructure.
   Colonial powers invested in the construction of essential infrastructure like railways, harbors, and ports. These were vital for transporting raw materials from the interior of the colonies to coastal ports. The labour for these projects was largely provided by Africans, who were forced to work on these massive undertakings.

2. Improvement of working conditions in plantations and mines.
   To attract African workers to plantations and mining areas, the colonialists made efforts to improve working conditions. Although these improvements were often minimal, they served as a means to motivate African labourers to migrate to these areas and work for European settlers in agriculture and mining.

3. Consolidation of labour recruitment agencies.
   Colonial governments established and consolidated labour recruiting agencies within the colonies. These agencies ensured a constant supply of labour for agricultural production, mining operations, and infrastructure projects. This system was designed to meet the labour demands of the colonial economy.

4. Assignment of special duties and quotas.
   Local African rulers were often tasked with recruiting a specific number of workers annually from their communities. These quotas were enforced to ensure that sufficient labour was available for European economic activities. Additionally, special duties and other responsibilities were imposed on local rulers to maintain this labour supply.

5. Introduction of taxation.
   To force Africans to provide their labour, colonial powers introduced various taxes, such as the hut tax, head tax, and property tax. These taxes were designed to make it difficult for Africans to survive without working for Europeans. For instance, in Kenya, taxes like Matiti, head, and property taxes compelled Africans to work in settler farms, mines, and other European-owned sectors to generate money for tax payments.

6. Enactment of labour laws.
   Colonial governments enacted labour laws that legally bound African populations to work for European enterprises. These laws made it mandatory for Africans to engage in the production of raw materials necessary for the economic development of the metropoles.

7. Land alienation.
   One of the most impactful strategies was land alienation, where Africans were dispossessed of their fertile lands and pushed to less productive areas. This displacement forced Africans to continue providing their labour in the new agricultural or industrial sectors, such as plantations and mines, as they no longer had access to land for subsistence farming.