LAHORE: Participants in a convention say that with a dreadful figure of 5.6 million people who have become ‘slave labourers’ at brick kilns, the government’s dream of ‘Naya Pakistan’ has been shattered as the country has ranked eighth in global slavery index 2020.

Kiln workers and the representatives of civil society organisations from all over Punjab attended the event where they stressed labour reforms and a political will from the government to abolish slavery.

The meeting was held for condemnation of modern day slavery by the Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan (BLLF).

Executive Director BLLF Syeda Ghulam Fatima said political parties must include articles into their manifestos to end slavery from Pakistan.

“Those who are involved in the brutal practice of slavery should not be allowed to contest general elections,” she said.

“It is alarming that Pakistan stands eighth according to the global slavery index, but in the country kilns and deras [outhouses] of landlords are hubs of debt bondage. In this situation ban on labour inspection is tragic and can bring about international disrepute,” Ms Fatima said.

She added that the government’s measures to boost the construction industry deserved a tribute, but their must be a [development] share for kiln workers. A number of participants put forward recommendations which included that the government should not only lift the ban from labour inspection but it must be effective and that the workers must be given benefit schemes.

They recommended that kiln workers should be added to welfare schemes like ‘Hunarmand Naujwan’, ‘Apna Ghar’ and Insaaf Sehat Card.

Concerning pay scale, the government should investigate the alleged misappropriation of Rs500 million under the Integrated Project for the Abolition of Bonded Labour.

Khidmat cards have not been provided to kiln workers. Therefore, the government should ensure provision of khidmat cards and social security cards to kiln workers.

The Punjab chief minister must probe the registration of fake criminal cases against kiln workers.

Retired Col Raja Javaid Mujtiba, chairman First Democratic Front; Salman Abid, executive director Institute for Democratic Education & Advocacy; Muhammad Ameen, regional director Employees Old-age & Benefits Institution and others also spoke of the slavery issue in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2020