Hidden Exploitation

During a brief stop over
In Lugano, Switzerland
I got into conversation
With a woman
Who was working
In one of the many
Tourist souvenir shops.
She explained
That the economy
Was very bad
Throughout much of Europe
At that time,
And that many people,
Including herself,
Had lost their jobs.
She was working
Without pay,
In the hopes that
The new company
Would hire her
When the economy
Turned around.
I have no idea
How prevalent
That practice is,
But I heard
The similar stories
From several Italians as well.
Behind all the glitz
And the glamour,
Even in some of
The most idyllic settings,
Such worker exploitation
Often goes on
Right under our noses,
And we seldom notice.