Why did critics of mining towns referred to as wage slavery?

Critics referred to mining towns as examples of "wage slavery" because workers often faced harsh conditions, long hours, and low pay, which left them in a cycle of poverty and dependency. The term highlighted the lack of economic mobility and the exploitation inherent in the labor practices of the time, where workers had little choice but to accept unfavorable terms due to limited job opportunities. This situation was exacerbated by company towns that controlled not only employment but also housing and goods, trapping workers in a system that resembled servitude.