© Shakil Pathan/Anti-Slavery International
Bonded agricultural labourers, Sindh Province, Pakistan
 

 
 
 
 

Take action on bonded labour in Pakistan

Bonded labour in Pakistan is estimated to affect millions of people in different industries across the country. A bonded labourer pledges their labour in exchange for a loan, but then loses all control over their conditions of work and what, if anything, they get paid. Bonded labourers are not free to seek other jobs and are trapped into working very long hours, often for many years, until the debt is considered to have been repaid.

Click here to read background information on this country action.

Please act now:

Fill in your name, address and email below and click on submit. This will email the Ministry of Labour in Pakistan, expressing your support for the Government's commitment to tackling bonded labour and your hope that they will do more.
Emails will be copied to the European Commission, whose support for the Pakistan Government's efforts would help them tackle this important issue.

The message will be sent to the Ministry of Labour in Pakistan at mol_gov@yahoo.com and copied to Mr Heino Marius, Deputy Head of Unit in the Asia Directorate, European Commission Directorate-General for External Relations, at heino.marius@ec.europa.eu

Your message
 
Subject: Bonded labour in Pakistan
 

Dear Minister

I welcome and fully support the Government of Pakistan's commitment to tackling bonded labour in Pakistan, as set out in the 2001 National Policy and Plan of Action for the Abolition of Bonded Labour.

However, as you are aware, the 2002-03 rapid assessment surveys on bonded labour commissioned by your Ministry and the International Labour Organization indicate that little practical progress has been made against bonded labour in many sectors. For example, the rapid assessment on debt bondage in brick kilns concluded that "Despite national legislation forbidding any advance tied to labour, more labour is in debt bondage than ever before".

In light of the above, I would be grateful to receive any information regarding measures that the Government of Pakistan is taking to implement the 2001 National Policy and Plan of Action, progress made, and practical results achieved. In particular, the status of the national survey on the extent of bonded labour in Pakistan; the functioning of the District Vigilance Committees; and details of convictions and punishments under the 1992 law.

I would also appreciate receiving information on the number of bonded labourers who have been released and rehabilitated, along with any action undertaken by the Government to reduce the vulnerability of individuals to becoming bonded labourers in the first place.

This email is being copied to Mr Heino Marius, at the European Commission Directorate-General for External Affairs, and I hope that the European Commission will provide you with any assistance you may request in seeking to implement the 2001 National Policy and Plan of Action.

Thank you for your attention.
 
 
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