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Speakers at a seminar on bonded labour on Thursday urged the participants to facilitate labourers in their efforts to be spared exploitation.
The session was organised by the Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (SPARC) to create awareness about the recently amended laws on bonded labour.
Civil society activist Advocate Rashid Rehman discussed at length the laws regarding bonded labour. He said that action could be initiated against kiln-owners, who extended payments in advance to labourers with the aim to exploit them.
“Since the DCO is the chairman of the district vigilance committee, he should delegate some powers to the officers for taking necessary action against such kiln-owners,” he said.
Rehman said that labourers had been freed by the courts in many cases but their properties were not restored. The officers, he said, should also focus on restoration of properties and proper rehabilitation of the labourers.
Adnan, a law officer, suggested formation of a cell for registration and redressal of complaints against kiln-owners.
Munazza Hashmi of Encourage the Human Development, a group working for children’s right, stressed the need for early issuance of social security cards to labourers. She also urged state officials to act against exploiters.
“Kiln-owners are exploiting poor families with the patronage of some politicians to secure their captive vote bank,” she added.
Earlier, Hyacinth Peter, a Sparc representative, said that there were 540 kilns operating across the district. He said that only 10 of these provided workers facilities like schooling, health and sanitation.
Members of the district vigilance committee, rights activist and officials of the Labour and Prosecution Departments were also present.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2013.
