Despite the various push factors that encouraged the immigration; life on the plantations was deplorable and unsanitary. The protector of emigrant, appointed by the Governor General of India, was responsible for safety inspection of the ships selected to transport the emigrants by ensuring that they were properly outfitted and seaworthy. A medical inspector also examined the recruits and if they passed the test, they were admitted to the depot and eventually distributed to the island’s plantations. The voyage to Trinidad was about 3 months and conditions on board were cramped and depressing. There were frequent outbreaks of diseases which led to high mortality rates on these journeys. Although quite a few apparatus were put in place for the well-being and protection of the immigrants, these were more often than not very ineffectual.

Despite the immigration scheme was somewhat an opportunity for upward social mobility due to the caste hierarchy in India; this was not the case on the plantations. During their indentureship, the Indians were not free and were obligated to work for the estate under a 5 year contract of a 45 hour work week excluding Sundays. If they chose not to re-indenture themselves, they had to pay a special tax. However, after more stringent rules were put in place to have them tethered to the plantation. They were only granted a return passage to India by re-indenturing for a further 5 years. Initially, young abled males were preferred while females who migrated were seen as widows, deserted, runaway brides or prostitutes. Conditions were also deplorable as there was a lot of rape, little ventilation, no toilets and had to cook outside. There were problems with sanitation causing diseases like cholera to arise. the hospitals were awful and high infant mortality rate was a major concern. Whether or not the Indians were aware of the real nature on what they were embarking on, they were promised a better life on these plantations but instead received similar, if not worse treatment than what was previously experienced 

On the other hand, before slavery emerged there was a system of labour using white bonded servants from Europe. For the most part in this system the white servants were given a choice as to if they should come to the New World. Most chose to come with promises of a better life as they would work on a 5 -7-year contract and after expiration they would be given the opportunity to stay and given land and cash for them to remain in the Caribbean. However, in some cases the bonded servants did not have a choice as prisoners were forced to make their way to the Caribbean and kidnapping of women and children became a practice.

Indubitably it can be seen that chattel slavery was in no way in comparison to white bonded labour as these white servants had rights and had a choice to come to the Caribbean. Where as the salves were captured and forcibly removed from their country. They were horrendously treated and were given no room for redress as they were property.