о чем здесь речь? gen.

[канцлер]

Privatising our health service to feather the nests of the multinationals and forcing people off benefits into indentured servitude for a pittance.
- feather the nests of the multinationals - принести прибыль транснациональным компаниям?
- forcing people off benefits into indentured servitude for a pittance - как это перевести?

спасибо.

[leka11]

смысл - лишить людей преимуществ (бесплатной медицины) и загнать в долговую кабалу, при этом они получат крохи (низкую отдачу), имхо
(это про UK)

[Amor 71]

benefits здесь не преимущество и не бесплатная медицина. Это право на медуслуги.

[johnstephenson]

* 'to feather s.o.'s nest' = 'to make life (even) more comfortable for s.o.'/'to make s.o. (even) more wealthy' -- from the idea of a bird lining its nest with extra feathers to make itself warmer/more comfortable. It's nearly always used disapprovingly.

* 'multinationals' = 'multinational companies/corporations'.

* 'health service' (in the UK) = the National Health Service (NHS), which provides free medical care for everyone, but which the current (Conservative) government is trying to privatise. The NHS is very popular as a state-run institution, so this is a very controversial measure.

* 'benefits' here = social security/state benefits paid to the unemployed and those too sick to work. The current govt has greatly reduced them and brought in programmes to force people on benefits to work, even if they're ill. This is also very controversial.

* 'servitude' = 'working as s.o. else's servant'.

* 'to work for a pittance' (set expression) = 'to work for almost no money'. The current govt has created jobs for people, but many of them are very poorly paid, eg working in McDonalds, serving in shops, etc.

* an 'indentured servant' in British Empire colonies was a servant who was forced to sign an agreement (indenture) with his master legally obliging him to work for the master for a set period of time, eg 10 years. A semi-slave, in other words.

So the author's saying that the current government's policies are having the (negative) effects he's listed.

[pashazu]

...приватизируя наше здравоохранение, чтобы набивать карманы транснациональных корпораций, и вынуждая людей отказываться от пособий в обмен на кабальный труд за копейки.

[канцлер]

всем огромное спасибо, johnstephenson thanks for your help!

[edasi]

very poorly paid, eg working in McDonalds

а там кормят зато
или уже не кормят?

[johnstephenson]

Yes -- crumbs!