10 months ago
Report Highlights Gaps in Bonded Labour Enforcement in India
A new report says that many workers in India are still being forced to work against their will, even though this is illegal.
The report is based on interviews with almost 1,000 workers who were rescued from this situation.
It found that the government is not doing enough to help these workers.
For example, many workers did not get the money they were owed, and most did not even have a police report filed about their situation.
The report also found that many rescued workers, especially children, are not getting the education or support they need to stay out of exploitative work.
The report suggests that the government should do more to enforce the laws and help these workers.
A report based on a survey of 950 rescued bonded labourers from 19 states highlights significant enforcement gaps in addressing bonded labour in India.
Over 80% of rescued workers had no First Information Report (FIR) filed regarding their bondage or rescue, and only 3.6% of cases post-2016 led to conviction.
The average debt per rescued worker was ₹5,283.14, which was six times lower than the average unpaid wage of ₹32,514 owed to them.
63% of workers rescued after 2016 did not receive interim travel assistance, and many eligible for compensation did not receive it.
67% of surveyed rescued workers had no access to formal education, and 36.4% of rescued children were pushed back into exploitative labour.
- Who
- NGOs National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour, Mehnatkash Association, and the IDEAS office of interdisciplinary studies at O.P. Jindal Global University
- What
- A report highlighting enforcement gaps and failure in rehabilitation of bonded labourers in India
- Where
- India, with data from 19 states
- When
- The report was released on Thursday
- Why
- To highlight the continued prevalence of bonded labour and the ineffectiveness of current enforcement and rehabilitation mechanisms
Key facts
- Reporting Organizations
- National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour, Mehnatkash Association, IDEAS office of interdisciplinary studies at O.P. Jindal Global University
- Survey Sample
- 950 rescued bonded labourers from 19 states
- Average Debt per Worker
- ₹5,283.14
- Average Unpaid Wage per Worker
- ₹32,514
- Percentage of Workers Without FIR
- 80%
- Percentage of Cases Leading to Conviction Post-2016
- 3.6%
- Percentage of Rescued Children Without Compensation
- 53.8%
- Percentage of Rescued Women Without Compensation
- 33%
- Percentage of Rescued Workers Without Formal Education
- 67%
- Percentage of Rescued Children Pushed Back into Labour
- 36.4%
Quotes
Report
A report on bonded labor in India
“Over 80 per cent of rescued workers had no First Information Report (FIR) filed regarding their bondage or rescue. Not a single case involving rescued labourers resulted in conviction before 2016, and after 2016, only 3.6 per cent of cases led to conviction. Although debt is often portrayed as the defining feature of bonded labour, our survey shows that the average debt per rescued worker (₹5,283.14) was six times lower than the average unpaid wage (₹32,514) owed to them. None of the workers had their wages recovered from the employers.”
telegraphindia.com
“In violation of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1976 (BLSAA), workers are rarely rescued as mandated by the law. Their statements are rarely recorded in safe or neutral conditions, civil society organisations are seldom involved in rescue operations, and summary trials are not conducted within the stipulated time frame. In many cases, Release Certificates are not issued, and FIRs are not filed, even though the law requires these steps to be completed within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.”
telegraphindia.com
Justice D.H. Waghela
Former chief justice of Karnataka, Odisha, and Bombay high courts
“Denying the release orders and release certificates to identified bonded labourers amounts to denying them their right to rehabilitation... The data and findings presented in this report are both distressing and revealing. They highlight the urgent need for collective action.”
telegraphindia.com