An American just approached me to work for him. he wanted to establish a company ('Company X') and he explained that i should re-negotiate my contract so that my company does not hire me but Company X to do the job. so Company X would get my paycheck, then he would pay for company costs and if anything was left over, he would pay me some money as my 'salary'.

I asked him if i looked like a born sucker; basically, he wanted me to turn over my salary to him every month! and he said that i was 'not ambitious enough'. he said that he was going to negotiate many such contracts and many people would soon be working for us.

I declined, of course, but it gave me pause for thought. would it really be possible to design a no-risk business model whereby people would work for free for you? Amway and Avon are like this, right?

Surely in the era of profit sharing, contract workers, commissions, 'performance related pay' this is possible.

Could anyone advise me on a product or service i could offer before i start recruiting 'wage slaves'?

In this world where there is dearth of work, many people find themselves trapped by such schemes. It is a pity that such organizations can exist and exploit people for their weaknesses. I'd also blame the people who get into it to certain extent.

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What can be imagined, can be achieved.

Are they so bad though? i see that "indian fast food' has now come to indonesia. this is a great idea, i think (though many desi may not agree).

however, at many restaurants in indonesia (and perhaps at the indian fast food one here), the staff receive no compensation. the waiters even have to give their tips up to management; the staff sleep in the restaurant and basically work for room and board. however, it allows them to live in jakarta, during which time they can find a 'real' job.

my first job in journalism was at a London magazine where i worked for two years. there was no pay. however, i went to europe with a briefcase full of clippings to show (which is the most important thing in journalism -- your portfolio) and landed a job as an editor at a magazine with a staff of 12 people under me.

so all in all... i have to wonder if these 'exploitation' jobs are so bad...