Archive · 1 Dec 2025
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
- When
- The report was released on Thursday
- Where
- India, with data from 19 states
- Why
- To highlight the continued prevalence of bonded labour and the ineffectiveness of current enforcement and rehabilitation mechanisms
- 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%