Child-and-adult-labour-in-the-export-oriented-garment-and-gem-polishing-industry-of-India

Bonded child labour in the synthetic gem polishing industry of Trichy
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able to improve the living conditions of the majority of the local workers, because most of them
are in 'debt bondage' 187 and cannot become self-employed. That the majority of employers
working with the tra'ditional machines still make profit is due to the fact that the debts of the
workers permit the employers to pay very low wages to them; the debt is a means by which the
employers control labour, adults and children alike. The adult and child labourers are 'owned' by
the employer.
Next to stress which is caused by the system of debt bondage, many other health problems have
been reported by labourers. Researchers 188 noted common health complaints, like eye-strain and
early decay of the eye-sight. The faceting and polishing of stones with often more than 44 facets,
requires measurements with the eyes every minute. People need glasses at the age of 20 whereas
normally spectacles are required at the age of 35 plus.
Bonded labour is forbidden by Indian law. In an affidavit filed in 1994 before the Supreme Court,
the government of Tamil Nadu (ruling since 1991 till today) claimed there were only 'stray cases'
of bonded labour and whenever reported, 'rehabilitation measures are taken then and there'. The
Supreme Court has investigated the affidavit on its veracity and appointed a commission to
investigate the number of bonded labourers in Tamil Nadu. The commission found that, while
every district had officially noted that there were no children serving as bonded labourers, 'heart
rending and acute cases were widely prevalent in Tamil Nadu and the number of bonded labourers
was estimated at one million. Of the total number of bonded labourers in Tamil Nadu
100,000 are bonded child labourers engaged in silk weaving, agriculture, gem polishing and
cutting, quarries, beedi work (local cigarette rolling), power looms, brick kilns, floriculture, dyeing,
and match and fireworks factories. The commission's report says that the affidavit was
prepared without consulting district collectors or other officials, and the promises of corrective
measures have not been followed up' 189 . The commission has recommended to the Supreme
Court to ask the state government to officially recognize child bondage and to implement a multipronged
rehabilitation programme, including education, skill training, nutrition, health care and
cultural and social development. The commission has also sought the Supreme Court's
permission to file its report before the National Commission on Human Rights, which has already
mentioned Tamil Nadu as one of the worst offenders.
For the bonded child labour in the gem polishing industry in Tamil Nadu no special government
programmes exist. Bonded children are in many ways very difficult to assist, because they are
inaccessible. If the employer has paid for the child, it means that the child cannot look for another
job. In its State Plan of Action which was drafted in 1993, the government of Tamil Nadu has set
as its major goal to eliminate bonded child labour and child labour in hazardous industries for
children up to 14 years and full-time child labour of all youngsters under 12 years by the year
2000. Concerning bonded child labour, the State Plan of Action says that it has the intention to
eliminate bonded child labour in the beedi industry as well as to assess the situation prevailing in
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187 For a definition of debt bondage see 'definitions of term' on page viii of this report.
188 A Status Report on Child Labour in Tamil Nadu. Based on an Annotated Bibliography of Studies/Surveys on Child Labour in Tamil Nadu,
Unicef, Madras, 1995. Written by R. Vidyasagar.
189 Indian Express, March 18, 1996. Bonded labour - I: 'Tamil Nadu turns a blind eye to children's plight', op. cit.