Activists Demand Regulatory Body to Address Brick Kiln Workers’ Plight

APP

Islamabad: Civil society activists have called for the establishment of a regulatory body to address issues faced by brick kiln workers.

Speaking to APP on Sunday, human rights activist Farzana Bari highlighted that many brick kiln workers are struggling with inadequate wages, which fall below the minimum wage mandated by labor laws, making it difficult for them to make ends meet.

She noted that problems such as bonded labor, harassment, child labour, exploitation, and the failure to pay minimum wages are prevalent. Bari also pointed out that workers face severe challenges, including a lack of basic facilities, long working hours, inadequate leave provisions in emergencies, insufficient medical care, and hazardous working conditions.

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Ayub Malik, another human rights activist, remarked that many women are enduring significant hardships but continue to work to support their families.

Afshan Tehseen Bajwa, former Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), criticized the brick kiln industry, stating that it is primarily controlled by businessmen who avoid registering their kilns with the labor department.

This evasion exempts them from providing social security and old-age benefits to workers.

She described the living conditions of these workers as alarming, with a severe lack of basic amenities trapping them in a cycle of poverty. Bajwa urged for strict implementation of existing laws to protect this neglected sector and called for the introduction of new laws to ensure their safety and well-being.