It comes down to this. If you can not choose then you are a slave, not a worker. If you can choose, then you are a worker. If you are a worker and choose to remain, you are not exploited.
I have worked for low wages and in a highly dangerous if not lethal environment (US Army Infantry). ~$700 / month before taxes for a 24 x 7 job - about $1.00 / hour.
Still, I was not exploited because I chose to accept those conditions.
Little risk of actual starvation exists in he U.S., where there are all manner of safety nets both public and private. If millions of people's level of actual benefits would go down if they got low-paid jobs, they make the absolutely rational choice of intentionally staying permanently unemployed and dependent on public benefits.
But in some countries --- and in this country not so very long ago --- people have had their livelihoods destroyed by public policy, and have been herded into jobs which kept them in abject need before putting them in an early grave.
My grandfather (1890-1934) had that kind of job, one that killed him. My father (1914-2007) had the choice of working a dangerous job in an iron foundry at age 16 for abysmal wages, or seeing his parents (both invalids by that time) and younger brothers and sisters die in destitution.
Yes, my father and grandfather were exploited. And when you're hungry and desperate,it's hardly a choice.