LAST week, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah called attention to the evil of debt bondage in brick kilns — which is also prevalent in agriculture and the tanning and carpet-making industries. This scourge traps scores of workers and their families in a cycle of debt. The small loans taken by labourers are deceptively charged interest upon interest, and the curse outlives them, as future generations are forced to pick up the burden. At a hearing on juvenile brick-kiln workers, Chief Justice Minallah reiterated that nobody could force brick kiln labourers to work against their will, and underscored the illegality of employing anyone under the age of 16 years. Meanwhile, a report submitted to the high court by a commission tasked to look into the issue outlined the exploitation that labourers faced at the hands of land and factory owners, which is akin to slavery. It noted that the practice was in complete violation of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1992.

Besides local legislation, Pakistan is signatory to several international agreements, including ILO Convention 29 on bonded labour. And yet millions remain trapped in this form of modern-day slavery, since their servitude benefits those in power. Women and children informally work alongside the men in their families. Of the over 4m workers in brick kilns across the country, many belong to already marginalised religious minority communities. Under the scorching sun and unforgiving conditions, the labourers make brick after brick for what may feel like an eternity. They have no social security net, are vulnerable to ‘accidents’ and illnesses, and their numbers include small children. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reports that children working in brick kilns have a higher rate of mortality, while one in 20 children loses his eyesight. And yet brick-kiln workers cannot escape their life of bondage, as the threat of violence and intimidation constantly hovers above them. The recommendations made by the commission must be implemented, which include ensuring the execution of employment contracts for those who can legally work.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2021