The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will launch a special campaign from September 16th to 20th to register brick kiln workers in Umerkot and other districts in lower Sindh. This initiative aims to ensure that these workers, many of whom remain unregistered, can obtain their national identity cards and gain access to fundamental rights and social protection benefits.
This was stated by Mr. Iqbal Detho, Chairman of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), during a consultation on bonded labour and kiln worker rights in Sindh. The event, held at a local hotel, was jointly organized by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC), SHRC and Aga Khan University.
‘Registration with NADRA is a crucial first step towards ensuring that brick kiln workers and their families can access essential services and benefits, including social security, healthcare, and education,” stated Mr. Detho. He emphasized that a lack of official documentation often leaves these vulnerable workers susceptible to exploitation and denies them their fundamental rights as citizens.
In his speech, Mr. Detho highlighted the SHRC’s role as a bridge between civil society and government in advocating for worker rights. He stressed the Commission’s commitment to reviewing legislation, identifying gaps, and put forward recommendations for improvements to laws protecting labourers, particularly those trapped in bonded labour situations.
Discussions at the consultation centered around the Sindh Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act2015, its implementation challenges, and the need for stronger mechanisms to rehabilitate bonded laborers. The practice of “Peshgi,” a system of debt bondage prevalent in the brick kiln industry, was identified as a critical area requiring further scrutiny and legislative action.
Mr. Detho revealed that the SHRC is compiling detailed recommendations to address the issue of bonded labour, including strengthening the implementation of existing laws, improving access to legal aid for workers, and raising awareness about worker rights among both employers and labourers. He also mentioned the Labour Department’s ongoing efforts to introduce a law specifically addressing domestic child labour, signaling a positive step towards protecting vulnerable children.
Dr. Zafar Fatimia, the lead researcher of the AKU study on bonded labour in Sindh, said the research has revealed the precarious situation of brick kiln workers in Sindh, highlighting their extreme vulnerability to exploitation, debt bondage, and health hazards. The study, which also focused on the impact of the 2022 floods on these workers, underscores the urgent need for greater regulation and support within the industry.
‘Our research found that 90 per cent of brick kiln workers are forced to take loans (Peshghi) just to meet their basic needs, which is trapping them in a vicious cycle of debt bondage,’ stated Dr. Zafar Fatimia. He said ‘The devastating floods of 2022 exacerbated their plight, as work was suspended for months, further crippling their already meagre incomes.’
The study revealed that the brick kiln sector in Sindh remains largely unregulated, with work primarily carried out manually under harsh conditions. Workers, largely belonging to landless minority communities, often reside onsite in inadequate housing with poor sanitation and limited access to essential services like healthcare and education.
Lack of literacy and accounting skills makes workers vulnerable to exploitation through wage manipulation and unfair deductions by employers, he said adding that Residing in cramped, unsanitary conditions onsite exposes workers and their families to communicable diseases. Exposure to extreme heat, dust, and risk of injuries further jeopardizes their health.
Mr. Miandad Rahoojo, SESSI Commissioner, emphasized the need for improved law enforcement and highlighted the Islamic perspective that firmly condemns bonded labour. He called for practical measures to protect labourers, including formal work agreements, minimum wage standards, and improved access to government support programs like SESSI Card, Benazir Mazdoor Car and the Benazir Income Support Programme.
Faisal Iqbal from the ILO pledged support for the Sindh Labour Department, emphasizing the need for comprehensive data collection on forced labour. He said even though no official data about bonded labour in Pakistan, there are estimates that 10 per cent of the world’s total bonded labour prevails in Pakistan, which is a significant number.
Ms. Tehseen Fatima, Secretary of the Human Rights Department, Government of Sindh highlighted the measures being taken by her department to protect of workers’ rights in Sindh. She lauded the SPARC’s research and said it holds a vast amount of valuable data that can be shared with the department. By adopting a multisectoral approach, the Human Rights Department can utilize this data to work more efficiently and create strategies to tackle key issues. She also mentioned ongoing discussions regarding labour courts.
SPARC’s Executive Director, Asiya Arif, highlighted that the consultation’s main objective would be to take stock of the current situation concerning bonded laborers and brick kiln workers, and from there, determine the most effective ways to support them.
Zahid Thebo, SPARC’s Provincial Manager, underscored the consultation’s focus on pinpointing critical gaps hindering the effective implementation of the Sindh Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 2015. He emphasized that a key priority was to develop practical solutions to address the complex challenges associated with rehabilitating bonded labourers, enabling them to rebuild their lives and access their fundamental rights.
Mr. Nasir Mansor, Secretary General of the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) deplored that there is a lack of implementation of labour laws, due to which the workers suffer a lot. He said there is no implementation of Minimum Wages law and most of industries and commercial establishments are not implementing the minimum wages.
Other participants, stressed the importance of empowering local vigilance committees to effectively address bonded labour at the grassroots level.
