> This issue is vastly aided and exacerberated by the fact that immediately after unskilled laborers land, the first procedure is their passports are seized, and it's made clear they have to please their employer and work themselves to death to get it back. It changes the entire dynamic straight away: instead of the employer being obliged to keep you, you are now obliged to get back your passport.

Sure, but the local government wants it that way.

They won't be the ones to change it!