KARACHI, Nov 29: An NGO working for labour rights has demanded that steps be taken to eradicate bonded labour from the country, and has called for the immediate implementation of the National Policy and Plan of Action for the Abolition of Bonded Labour and Rehabilitation of Freed Bonded Labourers.

In a statement on Tuesday, the NGO – Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) – further demanded that Rs100 million, allocated by the government for rehabilitation of bonded labourers, should be utilized properly.

The organization also called for the setting up of district vigilance committees (DVCs) in all districts of the country.

It demanded that minimum wages should be enhanced adequately and the fact ensured that these were implemented in the job market.

It demanded that inspection of brick kilns by labour inspectors, particularly in the Punjab, where inspectors had been stopped by the government from visiting kilns, should be restored.

It further demanded that bonded labour cases should be prosecuted under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992.

While land reforms should be introduced and all citizens should be provided with social security, the PILER statement added.