|
 |
 |
| |
The Government of Nepal acknowledges that the problem of bonded agricultural laborers from the indigenous Tharu community needs to be urgently addressed. In total, based on three studies carried out by different organizations in 1992, 1994 and 1995 it can be estimated that there were (until July 2000) between 70,000 and 110,000 persons from the Tharu indigenous community in debt bondage in five districts under the system known as ‘Kamaiya’. The figure of 70-110,000 persons in debt bondage as ‘Kamaiya’ does not include debt bondage in other parts of Nepal, where agricultural laborers – known as ‘Haliya’ are bonded to landlords from whom they have taken loans.
Bonded Child Labor in Brick Kilns
In India, Nepal and Pakistan brick kilns – which are usually located in isolated areas – are widespread, with exploitative working conditions said to be rife. In 2002 and 2003 the CWA Task Force on Bonded Child Labor set out to investigate the nature of bonded child labor through three country studies. The studies also examined interventions and policies employed to protect children and their families from bondage, as well as practical recommendations for action (See following section on ‘Recommendations’ for more details.)
Information was primarily collected from 12 distinct locations in the three countries in the form of ‘life story interviews’ with children and focus group discussions with their parents, guardians and other significant adults.
A number of similarities exist across India, Nepal and Pakistan in terms of the nature of bonded child labor in brick kilns. Most of the children working in the kilns are migrants; the majority are from low castes (dalits) or from other excluded communities, such as those from minority religions; children mostly work alongside their families.
There are a number of stages to brick manufacture, and children are most prevalent in the brick-drying stage, but also in carrying raw bricks from the place they are made to the furnace. Children were also found preparing the mud and in casting the bricks. In brick kilns the children are also responsible for domestic chores and taking care of younger siblings. Children as young as eight years old work up to 12 hours per day. Typically, as part of a family in debt bondage they are not paid for their labor, but in cases where the child is paid, ‘wages’ are paltry:-
Masilamani, aged 12, got 77 tokens for carrying bricks on the day she was interviewed. She had carried 462 raw (unfired) bricks, six at a time. One raw brick usually weighs at least 1.5 kilograms, which means that she had lifted 693 kilograms that day, 9 kilos at a time. And for this whole day’s work she got 11.55 Indian rupees (25 US cents).
Source: First Draft of a Primer by Child Workers in Asia’s Task Force on Bonded Child Labor, 2005. |
| |
|
| |
Home | Bonded Labor | Situational Analysis in India, Pakistan and Nepal | 1) |
|
 |
|
|
