Special Registration Drive for Brick Kiln Workers in Sindh

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Brick-Kiln Worker
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National Database and Registration Authority will launch special drive from September 16 to 20 to register brick kiln workers in Umerkot and other districts in lower Sindh

  • The research has revealed the precarious situation of brick kiln workers in Sindh
  • 90 per cent of brick kiln workers are forced to take loans (Peshghi) just to meet their basic needs, which is trapping them in a vicious cycle of debt bondage
  • There are estimates that 10 per cent of the world’s total bonded labor prevails in Pakistan

Karachi, Sindh

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will launch a special campaign from September 16th to 20th to register brick kiln workers in Umerkot and other districts in lower Sindh.

This initiative aims to ensure that these workers, many of whom remain unregistered, can obtain their national identity cards and gain access to fundamental rights and social protection benefits.

This was stated by Iqbal Detho, Chairman of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), during a consultation on bonded labor and kiln worker rights in Sindh. The event, held at a local hotel, was jointly organized by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), SHRC and Aga Khan University.

Brick-kiln-workers
File Photo

“Registration with NADRA is a crucial first step towards ensuring that brick kiln workers and their families can access essential services and benefits, including social security, healthcare, and education,” stated Detho. He emphasized that a lack of official documentation often leaves these vulnerable workers susceptible to exploitation and denies them their fundamental rights as citizens.

Read: Pakistan among South Asian countries having highest Child Labor rates

Discussions at the consultation centered on the Sindh Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act-2015, its implementation challenges, and the need for stronger mechanisms to rehabilitate bonded laborers. The practice of “Peshgi,” a system of debt bondage prevalent in the brick kiln industry, was identified as a critical area requiring further scrutiny and legislative action.

Detho revealed that the SHRC is compiling detailed recommendations to address the issue of bonded labor, including strengthening the implementation of existing laws, improving access to legal aid for workers, and raising awareness about worker rights among both employers and laborers. He also mentioned the Labor Department’s ongoing efforts to introduce a law specifically addressing domestic child labor, signaling a positive step towards protecting vulnerable children.

Dr. Zafar Fatimia, the lead researcher of the AKU study on bonded labor in Sindh, said the research has revealed the precarious situation of brick kiln workers in Sindh, highlighting their extreme vulnerability to exploitation, debt bondage, and health hazards. The study, which also focused on the impact of the 2022 floods on these workers, underscores the urgent need for greater regulation and support within the industry.

“Our research found that 90 per cent of brick kiln workers are forced to take loans (Peshghi) just to meet their basic needs, which is trapping them in a vicious cycle of debt bondage,” stated Dr. Zafar Fatimia. He said “The devastating floods of 2022 exacerbated their plight, as work was suspended for months, further crippling their already meagre incomes.”

The study revealed that the brick kiln sector in Sindh remains largely unregulated, with work primarily carried out manually under harsh conditions. Workers, largely belonging to landless minority communities, often reside on-site in inadequate housing with poor sanitation and limited access to essential services like healthcare and education.

Lack of literacy and accounting skills makes workers vulnerable to exploitation through wage manipulation and unfair deductions by employers, he said adding that Residing in cramped, unsanitary conditions on-site exposes workers and their families to communicable diseases. Exposure to extreme heat, dust, and risk of injuries further jeopardizes their health.

Miandad Rahoojo, SESSI Commissioner, emphasized the need for improved law enforcement and highlighted the Islamic perspective that firmly condemns bonded labor. He called for practical measures to protect laborers, including formal work agreements, minimum wage standards, and improved access to government support programs like SESSI Card, Benazir Mazdoor Car and the Benazir Income Support Program.

Faisal Iqbal from the ILO pledged support for the Sindh Labor Department, emphasizing the need for comprehensive data collection on forced labor. He said even though no official data about bonded labor in Pakistan, there are estimates that 10 per cent of the world’s total bonded labor prevails in Pakistan, which is a significant number.

Ms. Tehseen Fatima, Secretary of the Human Rights Department, Government of Sindh highlighted the measures being taken by her department to protect of workers’ rights in Sindh. She said the SPARC holds a vast amount of valuable data that can be shared with the department. By adopting a multi-sectoral approach, the Human Rights Department can utilize this data to work more efficiently and create strategies to tackle key issues. She also mentioned ongoing discussions regarding labor courts.

Brick Kiln workers
File Photo

SPARC’s Executive Director, Asiya Arif, highlighted that the consultation’s main objective would be to take stock of the current situation concerning bonded laborers and brick kiln workers, and from there, determine the most effective ways to support them.

Zahid Thebo, SPARC’s Provincial Manager, underscored the consultation’s focus on pinpointing critical gaps hindering the effective implementation of the Sindh Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act 2015. He emphasized that a key priority was to develop practical solutions to address the complex challenges associated with rehabilitating bonded laborers, enabling them to rebuild their lives and access their fundamental rights.

Nasir Mansor, Secretary General of the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) deplored that there is a lack of implementation of labor laws, due to which the workers suffer a lot. He said there is no implementation of Minimum Wages law and most of industries and commercial establishments are not implementing the minimum wages.

Other participants, stressed the importance of empowering local vigilance committees to effectively address bonded labor at the grassroots level. (PR)

Read: Ending the Bonded Labor in Sindh: 5000 Farmers Sign Agreement with Landlords

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