“Meaningful” and “possibility of establishing an independent livelihood”

A Meaningful means:

substantial enough to make a real difference, rather than merely existing in a very limited or nominal sense.

It does not mean:

“I get everything I want.”

For example, suppose a worker and employer negotiate:

Employer offers $20 per day.

Worker asks for $25.

They agree on $22.

The worker did not get everything he wanted, but he had meaningful control because he could:

reject the offer;

negotiate;

choose another employer if alternatives existed;

decide whether to enter the contract.

So meaningful control is compatible with bargaining and compromise.

B. “Possibility of establishing an independent livelihood”

This means:

having a realistic opportunity to support oneself economically without remaining dependent upon a particular employer or former master.

For example, a formerly enslaved person might seek to:

acquire land;

cultivate his or her own farm;

establish a small business;

accumulate savings;

work independently;

employ other people.

Notice the word possibility.

It does not mean:

“Every formerly enslaved person must become economically independent.”

It means:

the legal and economic system should leave open a genuine route toward independent economic life.

If someone has no land, no capital, and no credit, he may technically be free to leave an employer but have very limited practical alternatives.