3071-The political economy of new slavery

Krishna Upadhyaya 135
Concern Group, a coalition of governmental, non-governmental and
intergovernmental agencies. Their wide-ranging interventions at national
and local levels, through projects and campaigns, together with the
organization of bonded labour, resulted, in 2000, in the government
announcing a ban on kamaiya bonded labour in Nepal. While those
efforts brought about freedom, the government left those freed without
the necessary support and care. International and national organizations
were faced with the need to provide temporary help. Government
support was very slow to materialize. The government has more recently
provided certification and some land – although not enough – to help
with rehabilitation.
Success has been only partial. It appears that nearly 50 per cent have
not been freed and are still in the clutches of the landlords. And, of
those who have been freed, it is estimated that about 40 per cent are
still without support. Various agencies, such as the ILO and charities,
continue to support the children’s education and well-being.
Conclusions and recommendations
The problems surrounding bonded labour in South Asia are not attributable
to the activities of multinational companies. This is primarily
a domestic difficulty. Culture, tradition and feudal or semi-feudal
relationships have provided the underlying support for bonded labour
and other exploitative and forced labour practices. Nevertheless, multinational
companies and increased foreign investment and trade due to
globalization have brought about changes in the system, resulting from
their financial interest in silk and also tea and other plantation crops.
However, here, a labourer’s contract generally is with contractors, and the
trading company in question may not be known or directly involved.
At the same time, ‘globalization’ has resulted in much more being
known about bonded labour, and more action being taken, with organizations
applying international pressure on national governments. Links
between local and international NGOs have enabled the local NGOs
to raise the issues in international human rights forums and so put
more pressure on their own governments to take effective action.
There has been increasing interest in ‘ethical’ trading. Customers on
the other side of the world often are happy to pay more for goods in the
knowledge that their production has been free from any form of slavery
or forced labour. Some carpets, tea, footballs and clothes are now sold
on that basis. Similar action could be taken with the silk and artificial
gem industries. While that is a step in the right direction, the vast