PESHAWAR, Jan 17: Participants in a workshop here on Tuesday expressed concern over the plight of labourers in brick kilns and asked the government to declare it an industry and to provide due rights to labourers. They also called upon the government to adopt practical measures for the abolition of bonded labour from the country.

The day-long workshop on “Abolition of Bonded Labour” was organized by the Pakistan Workers Federation and was addressed by prominent trade unionists, including Deputy General Secretary of the Federation Osama Tariq, labour leader Master Khudadad, Haji Abdul Lateef and Abdur Rab Sabir.

The deputy director, labour department, Mohammad Zahoor Khan, was the chief guest.

The speakers regretted that in this modern age bonded labour was still being used in different sectors, including brick kilns, agriculture, private residences, etc.