Bonded Labour in Pakistan

Nadeem Malik

doi:10.4236/aa.2016.64112

Abstract

Bonded labour is widespread in Pakistan. This paper is an attempt to illustrate the nature of bonded labour in the agricultural sector and the brick kiln industry in the country. Despite the introduction of Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992, bonded labour thrives because of the power and influence of big landlords in rural and factory owners in urban localities. It is argued that without effective land reforms or land distribution bonded labour cannot be eliminated. In additional to land reforms, effective governance based on strong democratic culture free of the influence of big landowners is essential to address the issue of bonded labour in Pakistan.

Highlights

Bonded labour is a modern form of slavery
In additional to land reforms, effective governance based on strong democratic culture free of the influence of big landowners is essential to address the issue of bonded labour in Pakistan
A person is enslaved as a bonded labourer due to debt bondage when his or her labour is acquired as a way of paying a certain loan

Summary

Introduction

A person is enslaved as a bonded labourer due to debt bondage when his or her labour is acquired as a way of paying a certain loan. Quite often bonded labourers are subjected to physical and sexual violence They live under various forms of surveillance (at times through armed guards). The ILO Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices similar to Slavery (1956) defines debt bondage as:. Bonded labour or debt bondage is probably the least known form of slavery today, and yet it is the most widely used method of enslaving people (Anti-Slavery International, 1996). Pakistan has ratified ILO Convention 29 on bonded labour. This paper is an attempt to illustrate the nature of bonded labour in the agricultural sector and the brick kiln industry in Pakistan.

Bonded Labour in Agriculture

Bonded Labour in Brick Kiln Industry

Human Trafficking and Bonded Labour

Bonded Labour and Land Reforms

Findings

Conclusion