IRAQ. Baghdad. 2010. Bangladeshi contractors take out the garbage at a U.S. base. To cut costs, the military hired workers from
South Asia and Africa for labor previously assigned to soldiers. These contractors were tasked with cleaning
the base, staffing the cafeteria and stocking the PX. They worked in the food court at Popeyes, Taco Bell,
Burger King, and Cinnabon. Many contractors were exploited by the government sub-contractors who hired
them. Wages were often far less than promised, living conditions abysmal, workers’ compensation almost
nonexistent and sexual assault not uncommon, with minimal accountability. Many workers didn’t even know
they would be going to Iraq and Afghanistan. Local recruiters would promise Dubai, Kuwait or Jordan.