Provincial Consultation ‘’Bonded Labour Situation in Punjab & Way Forward’’ at Lahore
29-Septemer-2020
On 29th September 2020, Labour
Education Foundation facilitated a
provincial level consultation ‘’Bonded
Labour Situation in Punjab & way forward’’
at Lahore. In
this consultation brick kiln workers’
union, trade
unions, civil society members, brick kiln
owners association and
government departments especially the Mr
Daud Abdula director labour and human
resource participated. In the first session,
the brick kiln workers
Muhammad Shabir-
General Secretary
Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union (PBMU)
Simreen
Munir Office
Secretary
(PBMU)
from Nankana Sahib
present a situation analysis of bonded
labour in Punjab. They said that brick kiln
workers are not getting minimum wage rate
EOBI cards and social security cards. They
expressed the miserable living condition of
brick kiln workers at brick kiln factories.
They said if the worker could have the
social security cards then they will get rid
of Pashgi (advance). The government response
is not positive for workers they are doing
all in favour of owners. There is no
implementation of bonded labour laws. DVC is
not working properly which is the forum to
address the issue of bonded labour. There is
no clean drinking water, washroom
facilities, dispensaries in case of
emergency especially in case of delivery at
brick kilns. Ms Bushra Khaliq said that
women workers are more vulnerable than the
men, she emphasised to increase the
membership of women in workers’ union so
that they can fight for their rights. Ms
Zunera Nazar Hussain deputy director NCHR
shared the scope of commission and
encouraged to brick kiln workers to register
human rights violation to NCHR. Muhammad
Tahseen Executive Director SAP PK said that
workers are facing a lot of problems and
this can only be addressed if they organise
themselves in unions. Mahar Abdul Haq
General Secretory Brick kiln Employers
Association responded to the demands of
workers and said that association is ready
to sit with the worker to address the issues
like providing the clean drinking water,
washrooms etc. He further said brick kiln
worker union and owner association can work
together to make changes in PESSI laws. Mr
Niaz Khan- General Secretary Carpet Union,
shared that although the brick kiln has got
the status of factories their workers are
still treated as an informal worker. They
also said that brick kiln workers are now
very well aware of their rights therefore
their voice cannot be suppressed.
In the second session the brick kiln
workers, owners and labour department
jointly came up with an action plan to
ensure the clean drinking water, washrooms,
social security cards, EOBI cards CNIC for
worker and education for the children of
brick kiln families.