Judical Action to end Bonded Labour - Human Rights Commission ...

amount of ëPESHGIí to the previous owner and takes this worker under
his charge. This worker is thus traded like chattel by brick-kiln Owners all
his life. If despite all these chains a worker still manages to escape, he is
chased and hounded by the 'JAMADAR' who brings him back to the
employer and in almost every case the escaped worker is traced and
brought back.
12. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
(a) The reasons for such a maltreatment of the workers in the brick-kilns
appear to be embedded in history. The brick-kilns are situated away from
the main cities and towns. They are scattered. Consequently the workers
at the brick-kilns are not exposed to those blessings of the civilization
which are available in the cities and the towns. Since they are scattered
and are located at quite some distances from one another, the workers of
one kiln have no contact with the workers of the other kilns. Because of
this non-communication of the workers the labour force in the brick-kilns
could never get together to voice better living and better working
conditions for themselves. The number of workers at a particular brickkiln
is not such which could pose any threat for the employer for
compelling them to offer better working conditions to the workers. Being
far away from the cities and towns the workers and even their children
have apparently no access to basic amenities such as education and
medical facilities. Most of the workers in this industry are Christians and
even on this score being the minority they perhaps do not feel confident
enough to challenge the maltreatment being meted out to them by the
brick-kiln Owners who belong to the majority class with ail the resources,
political involvements at their disposal.
13. PROBLEMS.
(a) As has been explained above the ëPESHGIí system and the 'JAMADAR'
system appear to be the cause of most of the problems faced by the
brick-kiln Workers.
(b) The wages being paid to the workers need to be rationalised.
(c) The working conditions for the labour in this industry need to be improved
and brought at par with the working conditions of the other industries and
establishments in the country.
(d) The 'CHILD-LABOUR' on the Brick-Kilns needs to be stopped forthwith.
(e) Social security benefits and medical facilities etc. need to be extended to
these workers.
(f) Provision for education of the workers' children also requires to be made.
(g) The workers also deserve protection against physical violation at the
hands of employers and ëJAMADARS'
(h) An environment of physical security, social and family security needs to
be ensured to the workers.
(i) Benefit of labour laws needs to be extended to this labour force also.
14. RECOMMENDATIONS
(1) Legislation be made whereby:-
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