Which term refers to the condition of workers who could never afford to pay

what they owed to a company store?

Debt peonage

Explanation:

Workers who could not pay off their debts to a store would be made to work for the store instead so as to pay off that debt in another way. This is called debt peonage.

The best answer to the question: Which term refers to the condition of workers who could never afford to pay what they owed to a company store, would be: Debt peonage.

Explanation:

Also referred to as debt slavery, peonage, or debt servitude, this form of forced labor was outlawed by the U. S Congress in 1867. Debt peonage is defined as a form of servitude, or forced labor, in which an employer, or a good, or service provider, was able to compel a worker to work off his/her debt by working for them without having any payment for that work. Since this was likened to slavery, or servitude, it became unacceptable in American society, until it was prohibited by Congress itself.