Interactive Session on Bonded Labour issues in Brick Kiln

August 27, 2013

New Delhi

 “The entire family works in the Brick Kiln for an advance, but then only one person gets a payment – the others do not –Are they all family members bonded? Or are they free to migrate?”  “Are brick kiln workers entitled to maternity benefits?” “Workers in Brick Kilns work for long duration extending upto 14-16 hours in a day during peak season. Can brick kiln workers get overtime wage?” These were, among other issues raised by brick kiln workers from Punjab during an interactive session on Bonded Labourers in Brick Kilns held in India International Centre, New Delhi on August 27, 2013. The meeting was addressed by the Deputy Director General Labour Welfare Shri A K Jena, Sri Onkar Sharma Regional Labour Commissioner and former fellow at the VVGNLI, Coen Compier, International Labour Standard Specialist at the ILO, J John, Executive Director, Centre for Education and Communication and Jai Singh, Volunteers for Social Justice.

Shri. A. K. Jena while addressing the Interactive session pointed out the responsibility of the contractors who bring the migrant workers to the brick kilns as well as the employers in ensuring the wellbeing of the workers. Sri Omkar Sharma stressed that all brick kilns should get registered under the Factories Act. He pointed that while there are gaps in enforcement; Indian labour laws equip trade unions to take up several issues. He stressed on the need to organize.  Coen Kompier, while addressing the issue of wages said that some labourers get piece rate, whereas some get time rate.   According to him, the Time-Motion study proposed by ILO would help in addressing the issue of wages appropriately. Addressing the press J John highlighted that advance continues to be the medium through which labour market in the brick kiln is regulated.

A field study conducted by CEC and VSJ indicates that in Amritsar, Ferozpur and Taran Taran, 94 per cent of all workers (Pathers, Jalais, Bharais and Nikasis) took advance and among Pathers (moulders), everyone took advance. More than 35 per cent took an amount higher than Rs.50000. Most of them said that they cannot repay the advance at the end of the season.  This  debt bondage is justified by  the following reasons: (1) it is compulsory to take advance; (2) advance is repaid against wages; substantial amount is deducted; (3) there is no clear documentation of advance taken, work done and the loan repayment; (4) workers get only a weekly payment, so low that they cannot manage daily requirements without taking loan again; (5) workers do not get minimum wages; (6) workers cannot leave the job in a particular kiln and take in another till the advances are paid off; (7) workers are compelled to go as dictated by the Jamadar from whom they have taken advance, in the next season.

The interactive meeting was attended by representatives of International justice Mission, Actionaid, ILO, human rights activist, academicians, print and electronic media persons and brick kiln labourers. It concluded with the suggestion of conducting training workshops for trade unions, non-governmental organizations on various aspects related to labour laws. Emphasis has been laid on organizing workers.

The meeting was organized by Centre for education and Communication in collaboration with Volunteers for Social Justice, supported by Anti-Slavery International as part of the project “Eradicating Bonded Labour from Brick Kilns”.

Bhupali Magare

Centre for Education and Communication

07503482191/ bhupalimagare@gmail.com