Conflicts over the appropriation of indigenous labour and disputes surrounding the concierto de indios in the Tucumán government (17th century)

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of appropriation, in the form of hiring by concierto, of the indigenous workforce in the government of Tucumán during the 17th century and the conflicts between Spaniards over access to labour. After the ordinances of oidor Francisco de Alfaro in 1612, which, in addition to assessing taxes, promoted the voluntary hiring of Indians to work in exchange for a wage and sought to guarantee the flow of workers to the non-encomienda sector, the registration of work contracts before a notary public increased considerably, becoming a practice that has been verified in several of its jurisdictions. However, in the second half of the century, the conciertos de indios highlighted recurring conflicts between Spanish encomenderos and non-encomenderos over access to and control of the indigenous workforce, which deserve to be analysed as part of the labour relations in the region.