Except that the jobs are highly competitive and not in any way mandatory. It's not slavery. It's very low pay, sure, but it's not really about making money. It's about their increased likelihood for employment and rehabilitation after leaving prison.

Besides, everything they need is paid for. You actually think they should be paid, what, minimum wage for a brain dead job without needing to pay for food, housing and health care? 45 dollars a month sucks, but after a two-year term the employed prisoner gets to leave with a thousand bucks that the unemployed prisoner doesn't.

I agree it's low, but saying its slavery is an insult to those who were/are actually enslaved.