CONVICT LABOR IN COLONIAL VIETNAM: A CASE STUDY OF LABOR PRACTICES AT CON DAO PRISON UNDER THE FRENCH RULE

Abstract

This article analyzes the organization and use of convict labor at Con Dao prison, which was one of the earliest established and most populous penal institutions under the French colonial rule. The study utilizes historical methodology and a combination of archival materials and administrative documents to elucidate how the colonial authorities established a system of convict labor to serve both economic and control-oriented objectives. The article further demonstrates that prisoners were assigned to various tasks, including stone breaking, transporting materials, constructing public works, road building, land cultivation, fishing, and performing services for the prison administration. It is important to note that these convicted laborers were subject to substandard conditions, receiving minimal compensation and lacking fundamental occupational safety protections. This prompted them to take collective action in protest, demanding their rights be recognized. This research makes a significant contribution to the field by recognizing convict labor as a structural component of the colonial state apparatus. Additionally, it highlights the social resistance of prisoners in response to exploitative labor conditions at Con Dao.