slave wage

Probably from the idea that the wage is so low that someone receiving it is nearly or de facto enslaved.

slave wage (plural slave wages)

1. A very low amount of money paid to a worker for a specified quantity of work.

   Coordinate terms: living wage, minimum wage, family wage, maximum wage

   • 1995, “United Kids”, in Set Your Goals (cassette), performed by Civ, Lava Records, →OCLC:

     What's the situation? / An un-united nation / Working for a slave wage / What would you pay? / Kicking down a closed door / Something you could fight for / It's time to pull up / your head off the floor

• wage slave, wage slavery