ISLAMABAD, May 20: Women bonded labourers are the worst sufferers in the agriculture sector as they have to face the menace of sexual abuse. According to the recently launched International Labour Organization’s report on bonded labour, women are at a particular risk of sexual abuse from ruthless landlords. Cases of sexual abuse of women were reported by over half of the more than 1,000 households in a survey of freed Haris (sharecroppers) at their camps near Hyderabad, the report said.

In agriculture, bonded labour was most prevalent among sharecroppers in parts of Sindh and Punjab. In Punjab, it is found in a severe form among a category of permanent agricultural workers. In these cases, bonded labourers usually belonged to the lowest castes or were non-Muslims — a vulnerability reinforced by the fact that their homes were located on the landlord’s property. The threat of eviction ensured labour discipline.

However, the report underlined that by no means all Haris were badly treated. Many landlords observed that they had no choice but to extend loans to the Haris to obtain labour supply, and would welcome any solution to the problem.

Interestingly, the assessment found little evidence of bonded labour in those parts of the country where the tribal system served to mitigate potential abuse. Casual labourers in agriculture often took small advances, but these were generally repaid from wages at the end of the contract, the report said.

The survey of sharecroppers in Sindh and brick kiln workers in Punjab illustrates same patterns of deception and coercion in the bonded labour relationship.

Some 45 per cent of sharecroppers and 40 per cent of brick kiln workers have no understanding of their creditors’ calculations concerning debt, the terms of which were unilaterally dictated by the landlords or employers.

Many who were interviewed confirmed that they were not free to seek alternative employment while their debts remained unpaid. Between one-fifth and one-third also reported verbal or physical coercion on the part of landlords or employers.

Household illiteracy was a key indicator of both destitution and bondage. In the case of brick kilns workers, low caste status was obviously associated with a higher incidence of bondage.

In the brick kiln industry, all unskilled and semi-skilled workers received advances from kiln owners through contractors, know as Jamadars.

For the large number of local labourers, the advances are generally kept within repayable limits.

However, for the low-status migrant Pathera (kiln workers) families, debts tend to be much higher. These cannot be repaid because of the low wages that are well below the legislated rates of payment for the sector.

Furthermore, the labour of women, children and adolescents is rarely acknowledged, and is not remunerated separately. Internal migrants who are far away from their communities and social support systems, and workers who live with their families on the kiln premises are particularly prone to exploitation.

Most indebted workers are convinced that if they attempt to flee, they will be tracked down and forced to leave.