摘要

1847年以后，古巴种植园在维持奴隶劳动的同时，开始引入中国契约劳工。契约载明的有限工期与劳动者实际获得自由之间，始终横亘着制度性障碍。本文依据1874年赴古巴调查团联合报告、清政府与西班牙的交涉文件及相关研究，考察招募、契约履行与期满管理之间的关联，认为华工所受强制不仅来自招募欺诈与雇主体罚，更来自期满证明、再契约及收容所制度对退出劳动关系的限制。华工陈述经调查整理转化为外交证据，劳动待遇问题随之演变为招工权利与保护义务之争。1877年中西条款取消今后的预订劳动契约，并规定通行、诉讼及领事保护等权利，但既有契约和地方治安权限仍被保留。古巴个案表明，契约形式的改变并不自动消除强制劳动，权利能否实现，最终取决于劳动者能否终止雇佣关系并获得外部救济。

Abstract

Chinese indentured workers entered Cuba from 1847 while African slavery remained in place. Drawing on the joint report of the 1874 Cuba Commission and published diplomatic correspondence, this article examines recruitment, workplace coercion, and restrictions after contract expiry. It argues that withheld completion certificates, compulsory recontracting, and administrative detention obstructed workers’ ability to leave employment. Workers’ accounts became diplomatic evidence in disputes over recruitment rights and obligations of protection. The 1877 Sino-Spanish convention prohibited future emigration under labor contracts and recognized rights concerning movement, litigation, and consular assistance. Existing contracts and local policing powers nevertheless limited the scope of reform. The Cuban case demonstrates that contractual terms alone did not secure freedom: the ability to end employment and obtain external remedies remained decisive.

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