04 April 2004	Sunday	13 Safar 1425

ISLAMABAD, April 3: A study carried out by the Bonded Labour Research Forum to explore the situation in the brick kilns is based on assumptions and possibilities with many of the findings repeating the observations from the previous studies.

The study has been conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Part of the "Rapid Assessment Studies of Bonded Labour in Different Sectors in Pakistan," the study on brick kilns accepts the shortcomings of the research when it concedes, "Until the FBS (Federal Bureau of Statistics) completes its national Economic Census, 'estimates' alone are possible for the number and distribution of brick kilns."

Other aspects of the study deal with the state of bonded labour in agriculture, hazardous industry and mining and carpet industries.

Financially supported by the ILO, the study was carried out under the "invaluable guidance" and leadership of the ministry of labour.

The study, based on rapid assessment through short visits to over 100 brick kilns in and around the urban and peri-urban areas of the districts of Hyderabad, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Haripur, was conducted from October to December 2002.

Draft findings of a sample survey of 100 brick kilns across 34 districts of rural Punjab, carried out by the FBS during 2002, are also summarised in the study.

The study explores the situation in brick kilns with a view to emphasizing the feasibility of socially effective prompt relief and remedy by federal, provincial and local governments.

Without identifying the unofficial sources in the research, the study said, "Punjab definitely has the largest number of kilns, possibly as many as 5,000."

The remaining three provinces together "may" have around 1,000 kilns, with over 400 in the NWFP, it said.

The field work carried out for the study suggests that more than half a million men, women and children work in brick kilns.

According to another finding of the study based on a probability, women usually work as patheras - makers of unbaked bricks - in the brick kilns of the country.

"Excluding NWFP (and, probably Balochistan), women make a significant contribution as patheras through family kiln labour across Pakistan."

The study, "re-affirming" the previous findings said the brick kilns across the country depended on the labour of children. Female children not working at the kilns performed domestic chores to free up older family members for kiln work, it said.

The study also "confirmed" the common view that brick kilns remained a major sector where debt bondage occurred.

"These findings, and the similar results documented in the FBS survey of 2002, underscore the need for government to undertake the legal and administrative actions proposed in the National Policy and Action Plan."

Citing a reason for rehashing the observations from previous initiatives, the study said repetition was for the benefit of newer officials and activists, as well as to underscore how little things had changed over the decades.