P a g e | 1

Contents
Background ..................................................................................................................................... 2
Brick kilns ....................................................................................................................................... 2
Challenges ....................................................................................................................................... 2
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
The ILO Committee of Experts on the Meaning of Forced Labor ................................................. 4
Statistical Data related to Forced/ Bonded Labour ......................................................................... 4
Bonded Labour Perspective Of Ilo, Government & Judiciary ........................................................ 5
Main Points of Project .................................................................................................................... 5
ILO .................................................................................................................................................. 6
A Global Alliance Against Forced Labour ..................................................................................... 7
The ILO and Forced Labor- In depth .............................................................................................. 8
JUDICIARY ................................................................................................................................... 9
The Role of The Judiciary as a Catalyst of Social Change ........................................................... 10
Expanding Frontiers of Judicial Review ....................................................................................... 10
Judiciary ........................................................................................................................................ 12
Bonded Labour and the Government Intervention for the Preventions: ..................................... 13
Labour and Human Resource Department .................................................................................... 13
Home Department ......................................................................................................................... 14
Law Department............................................................................................................................ 14
Ineffective Legislation .................................................................................................................. 15
Possible Interventions to Redress the Situation ............................................................................ 15
Lobbying of Influential Persons.................................................................................................... 15
Non Implementation ..................................................................................................................... 16
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 17
References ..................................................................................................................................... 18

P a g e | 2

Background
The Government of Pakistan passed the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1992, and the
Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Rules, 1995, which prohibit and punish bonded labour.
Despite these laws, in 2000, research by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research
(PILER) estimated that the total number of agricultural sharecroppers in debt bondage in
Pakistan to be over 1.8 million people, and that there could be as many as one million brick kiln
workers in bonded labour.
Rapid assessment surveys covering nine industries were commissioned by the Pakistan Ministry
of Labour and the International Labour Organization (ILO) between October 2002 and January
2003. These surveys indicate that little practical progress has been made against bonded labour
although the nature and extent varied between sectors.
Brick kilns
One of the industries covered by this assignment was brick kilns. The report published on this
sector in 2004 concluded that ".there has been no reduction in legal bondage as defined under the
Supreme Court judgement" and, despite national legislation, "more labour is in debt bondage
than ever before".
The incidence of bonded labour in brick kilns is extremely high. A 2004 survey of brick kilns in
Punjab by the Federal Bureau of Statistics found that nearly 90 per cent of workers took
advances from the kiln-owner. The workers described their loan repayment period as indefinite.
Around 66 per cent of households had annual incomes smaller than Rs 10,000 (US$167) despite
commonly working 10 hours each day. Three quarters of workers complained of restrictions
which sought to prevent them seeking other jobs.
Challenges
The rapid assessment surveys highlight the need to ensure the proper identification of bonded
labourers and the effective prosecutions of those who violate the law. The 2001 National Policy
and Plan of Action for the Abolition of Bonded Labour and the Rehabilitation of Freed Bonded
P a g e | 3

Labourers outline a range of measures designed to tackle the problem. These included a national
survey to identify the extent of bonded labour; reconstitution and activation of the District
Vigilance Committees; awareness raising; state assistance for judicial redress; and the
preparation of rehabilitation programmes for freed bonded labourers. The full implementation of
this Plan of Action would greatly assist in reducing the number of bonded labourers in Pakistan
and should be a priority for any future government.
INTRODUCTION
It is ten years since Pakistan's Supreme Court declared bonded labour to be unconstitutional and
took the first steps to abolish it. It is almost seven years since the National Assembly passed a
law formally abolishing bonded labour and prohibiting the practice, and four years since the
publication of the official "Rules" outlining how the law was to be implemented. Bonded labour,
or "debt bondage" as it is labelled at international level, is a practice condemned by the United
Nations as "similar to slavery" and consequently a violation of Article 4 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. It is considered by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to
constitute forced labour and to be a violation of the ILO's Convention No. 29 on Forced Labour.
In the days and months after the Supreme Court's judgment of 1989, tens of thousands of bonded
labourers in Pakistan's brick kilns left the jobs which they had been doing as a result of the
pressure of debt bondage. Progress was swift and it seemed that the millions of people reported
to be held in debt bondage in the country would soon be free.
However, in 1999 we are obliged to conclude that, despite temporary progress following the
Supreme Court's judgment, debt bondage remains both widespread and virtually unchallenged by
the Government of Pakistan. Indeed, it is both remarkable and tragic how little government
officials have been willing to do to enforce the country's laws and to bring an end to debt
bondage, and how willingly they appear to tolerate its persistence.
In many cases it is entire families which are bonded in Pakistan. Of course, there are specific
cases of children being pledged or bonded in return for loans to their parent(s) or guardian,
notably in the carpet industry and in agriculture. The way the children are absorbed and obliged
to work varies, but as a matter of routine the children of bonded families do not attend school,
P a g e | 4

but start helping their parents work as soon as they reach school age, if not before. There have
been various attempts to estimate the number of child labourers in Pakistan, notably involving
the ILO, but no statistics have been published as a result concerning either the number of
children, or the total number of people in Pakistan, who are victims of debt bondage.
The ILO Committee of Experts on the Meaning of Forced Labor
The definition of forced labor given in Article 2 can be analyzed in terms of three elements:

(1) Work or service performed;
(2) Under the menace of any penalty;
(3) For which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily.

Through individual observations and general reports or surveys, the Committee of Experts has
offered its views on the meaning of these elements. Throughout this casebook, individual
observations of the Committee of Experts are included to show the reader the ILOs perspective
on particular issues.
Statistical Data related to Forced/ Bonded Labour
There are over 1.7 million people in the bondage in Pakistan and majority of them are landless
tillers (bonded labors) in Sindh who are working under the control of provincial feudal lords.
According to International Labour Organisation (ILO) statistics, the wives and children of male
labourers are also in captivity of Sindhi feudal lords (waderas). Many non-governmental
organisations including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have shown concern over the
increasing number of such cases and the government's apathy and failure in getting them
liberated. In Sindh, the problem of bonded labour is increasing. In earlier times, landlords used to
have their slaves but now even mid-range farmers are enslaving people. Families in desperation,
either in search of livelihoods or struck by some crisis for which they need cash become victims
of the feudal lords who lend advance to them and in return keep them in bondage to do their
work. The workers are supposed to pay off their loans through work - but that rarely happens.
P a g e | 5

During their work they are kept in private detention centres and this cycle keeps on going for
generations.
According to HRCP statistics in the year 2005 the Commission reported the release of some
1072 bonded labors from the detention of waders. Some 181 bonded labors got released through
administrative measures of the provincial government; about 63 bonded labors managed to get
free through the orders of the sessions court when their cases were prosecuted by rights activist
organisations and 828 such bonded labourers escaped from the prison-like places.
The bonded labour system in the country was also challenged in the Federal Shariat Court as
being repugnant to Islamic spirit. The Shariat petition against the system was filed under Section
203-D of the Constitution challenging some sections of the Bonded Labour System (abolition)
Laws 1992. The petitioners maintained in the petition that the abolishing of bonded labour laws
were ambiguous and needed to be interpreted by the court. They had a contention that it was the
vagueness and ambiguity of these laws that bonded labour is rampant every where and the poor
families continue to be exploited by the employers particularly in the industries of brick kilns
and carpet weaving. The petitioners sought interpretation of laws dealing with Bonded Labour
System, besides seeking declaration of the System contrary to the Holy Quran and Sunnah. The
court has reserved the judgement on the issue.
Bonded Labour Perspective Of Ilo, Government & Judiciary
ILO project on promoting the elimination of bonded labour in Pakistan (PEBLIP). The project
was done on forced labours. Project was Started at March 2007 and ended at April 2010. Donor
of The project was Netherlands (US $ 999,363).
Main Points of Project
1. Reduced incidence of bonded labour through development of knowledge base and awareness
on aspects of bonded labour.
P a g e | 6

2. Institutional capacity of government (at all levels federal to local); judiciary, police; district
vigilance committees; labour inspectorates; employers; workers; parliamentarians; media;
religious leaders and enhanced civil society.
3. Improved conditions of Labour, particularly for women in targeted sectors through improved
contractual arrangements and the introduction of a regulatory framework and increased
social/economic development services for families in targeted areas.
ILO
ILO is mandated, among others, with the responsibility to fight against the menace of Bonded
Labor across the globe and play its beneficial role towards the relief and rehabilitation of bonded
labor wherever it is found.
The Bonded Labor system is somewhat rooted in certain sectors of Pakistani economy. Pakistan
being a responsible member of UN has signed and ratified various international conventions that
aim at the elimination of the bonded labor system from the country. Similarly, at the domestic
level, it has taken various legislative steps to curb and eliminate this menace from its society e.g.
the Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act 1992 and Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Rules
1995.
The menace of bonded labor is one of the most serious violations of human rights as it affects all
aspects of life including civil liberty, human dignity and economic rights.
Bonded labor or forced labor is universally equated with slavery and practices similar to slavery.
The ILO therefore prioritized this issue and was one of the first organizations to address it in the
wake of the First World War.
Bonded Laborer is defined as a worker who renders services under the condition of bondage
arising from economic considerations, notably indebtedness through a loan or an advance. Where
the debt is the root cause of the problem of bondage, the implication is that he worker is tied to a
particular creditor for a specified or unspecified period of time until the loan is repaid.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the majority of forced laborers reside in South Asia. The most recent
survey of bonded laborers carried out by Institute of Labor Education and Research in 2000
P a g e | 7

indicates that upto 6.8 million persons were living in conditions of bondage. A more
conservative estimate was 1.8 million persons who said that they were indebted to their landlord
in Sindh. Across the 4,000 brick kilns in Pakistan, up to 700,000 persons are in debt bondage.
Bonded labor is mostly prevalent, with varying degrees, in one form or the other, in the
following sectors of economic activity in Pakistan:
1. Brick kilns
2. Mining developments
3. Domestic workers
4. Begging
5. Agriculture
6. Bangles
7. Construction
8. Carpet weaving
A Global Alliance Against Forced Labour
Forced labor is a global problem, affecting almost all countries of the world. There are at least
12.3 million persons in forced labor today. Most victims are poverty-stricken people in Africa,
Asia and Latin America, whose vulnerability is exploited by others for a profit. Yet over
350,000 women and men are also in forced labor in industrialized countries, trafficked for either
labor or sexual exploitation.
With political will, forced labor can be eradicated. The ILO is promoting a Global Alliance to
achieve this, with partner agencies pooling their efforts to wipe out all forced labor worldwide
by 2015. This site promotes networking and information exchange, both on the disturbing facts
and features of modern forced labor and of innovative action by a range of partners to wipe it
out once and for all.
On 15 December 2011, a roundtable will launch the first guidelines on how to measure
forced labor of adults and children.
P a g e | 8

Organized by the ILO Helpdesk for Business and Special Action Programme to
combat forced labor, the webinar will provide practical guidance to assess and address
forced labor risks.
On 20 and 21 June, The 11th High-level Alliance against Trafficking in Persons
conference aims to gain a deeper understanding and to analyze the various
interconnected factors that foster the exploitation of people in slavery-like practice. Mr.
Guy Ryder, Executive Director of the ILO's Standards and Fundamental Rights at Work
Department will participate to the session on "Partners in the Alliance Against
Trafficking in Persons"
The ILO and Forced Labor- In depth
The ILO was founded in 1919 with a mandate to develop international labor standards and
promote their ratification and implementation. In 1946, it became a specialized agency of the
United Nations. It has a unique, tripartite structure consisting of representatives of governments,
employers and workers. The International Labor Conference meets once a year and adopts new
international labor standards.
As of 2007, the International Labor Conference had adopted 188 conventions, which are binding
on the member states that ratify them, and 199 recommendations, which are non-binding
guidelines. Between sessions of the International Labor Conference, the ILO is guided by a
Governing Body, which is also composed of government, employer and worker members.

The ILO has been concerned with forced labor from its earliest years. Amid growing
condemnation of the use of forced labor for public works by colonial governments, the ILO
Governing Body appointed a Committee of Experts on Native Labor in 1926. The eventual result
was the Forced Labor Convention (No. 29), which was adopted in 1930 and entered into force in
1932. Article 2 of the Forced Labor Convention defines forced or compulsory labor as all
work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for
which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily. The Forced Labor Convention was
P a g e | 9

the first and until 1999 the only ILO Convention to require criminalization of a prohibited
labor practice.

In the 1950s, the ILO became concerned with the use of forced labor as a means of political
reeducation or suppression of dissent, especially by totalitarian regimes. The Abolition of Forced
Labor Convention (No. 105) was adopted in 1957 and entered into force in 1959. In 1999, the
ILO adopted the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention (No. 182). Neither of the latter two
conventions altered the definition of forced labor contained in the Forced Labor Convention.
Together, these three are among the most widely ratified ILO conventions. As of September
2008, the Forced Labor Convention had 173 ratifications, the Abolition of Forced Labor
Convention had 169 ratifications and the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention had 169
ratifications.
In 1998, the ILO adopted the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in order
to strengthen the application of four fundamental principles. The Declaration commits member
states to respect these principles regardless of whether or not they have ratified the relevant
Conventions. The elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor and the effective
abolition of child labor are among the fundamental principles listed in the Declaration. In
November 2001, as part of its effort to promote the Declaration, the ILO Governing Body
created the Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labor (SAP-FL). SAP-FL conducts
research and carries out technical assistance activities in the field of forced labor.
JUDICIARY
Judiciary including Supreme Court of Pakistan, High Courts, Session Courts and the
Federal Shariat Court have always taken proactive position on bonded labour and have
given judgments to end the bonded labour system from the country.
Darshan Masih case laid the foundation for legal and other actions on bonded labour.
Habeas corpus petitions by brick kiln workers are regularly entertained by the High
Courts and lower judiciary.
Munoo Bhel and Baba Inayat Masih Cases show the concern of judiciary
They provide maximum relief to the affected workers and their families
P a g e | 10

Federal Shariat Court in its judgment (10-10-2005) has directed that all applicable laws
be applied at brick kilns and have dismissed the employers' viewpoint that the Bonded
Labour system (Abolition) Act 1992 is repugnat to the tenants of Islam
Established by the Federal Govt. by initial contribution of Rs. 100 million from Pakistan
Bait-ul-Mal
Punjab Govt. contributed 3 million for affected bounded labours.
Main functions of the Fund:-
Training of freed bonded labour
Provision of legal and financial assistance to bonded labour.
Support the activities of vigilance committees to eliminate bonded labour
The Role of The Judiciary as a Catalyst of Social Change
Our current history begins with the emergence of independent states in societies which till then,
had been under colonial rule. Independence promised to usher in social change. Colonial
societies were marked by feudal hierarchies, patron-client relationships, and disparities of
wealth, class and caste. Equal opportunities for self realization were a far cry as access to
education and access to health for all was a distant goal. A classic work by an anthropologist on
post-colonial Africa bears the title From Subject to Citizen. In a colonial society, a person was
the subject of an imperial ruler, whose viceroys exercised executive authority without
constitutional limits. They were thus under no constitutional obligation to respect the
fundamental rights of their subjects, nor in these societies could the subjects seek judicial
protection of their rights. Upon independence, subjects emerged as citizens whose fundamental
rights were recognized. In the realization of these rights, the judiciary was to make a significant
contribution.
Expanding Frontiers of Judicial Review
The incorporation of a Bill of Rights in our Constitutions and conferment of the power of
judicial review and the power to enforce fundamental rights on the judiciary has enabled it to
P a g e | 11

play a profoundly catalytic role. By expanding the frontiers of judicial review, and by being
creatively proactive, the judiciary has drawn upon the resources in our Constitutions to promote
social change.
The judiciary has been promoting social change through rights-friendly interpretations of the
Constitution aimed at implementation of economic and social rights. The increasingly positive
attitude of the judiciary towards public interest litigation, overcoming earlier 2 inhibitions which
had constrained the role of the judiciary, has enabled the judiciary to play a dynamic role in
facilitating and promoting social change.
Abuses of executive powers, the failure to discharge legal duties and pervasive human rights
violations have all called for redress and has accounted for the expansion of the scope of judicial
review. The challenge of implementation of economic and social rights has seen innovative
approaches being applied, including the development of public interest litigation.
New challenges are presented by issues, amongst others of gender justice, bonded labour,
forcible eviction of slum dwellers, and different forms of environmental degradation which have
had to be dealt with by the judiciary. The contributions of the judiciary in Pakistan are reviewed
below.
A similar orientation has now been reflected by other Supreme courts in the region. Chief Justice
Haleem of Pakistan has expressed the view that genuine freedom consists not only of freedom
from arbitrary restraint but also freedom from poverty, ignorance and destitution, and speaking
for the full Court, observed: (8) "The intention of the Constitution makers as it seems to me is
to implement the social and economic justice enshrined in the principles of policy within the
framework of Fundamental Rights. Chapters I and II of Part II of the Constitution, which
incorporate Fundamental Rights and directive principles of State policy respectively occupy a
place of pride in the scheme of the Constitution, and if I may say so, these are the conscience of
the Constitution as they constitute the main thrust of the commitment to socio-economic justice.
The directive principles of State policy are to be regarded as fundamental to the governance of
the State but they are the basis of all legislative and executive actions of the state for
implementing the principles laid down therein. As the principles of democracy are not based on
dogmas and also do not accept the theory of absolutes in any sphere of socioeconomic justice,
P a g e | 12

therefore, the authors of the Constitution, by enumerating Fundamental Rights and the Principles
of Policy, apparently did so in the belief that the proper and rational synthesis of the provisions
of the two parts would lead to the establishment of an egalitarian society under the rule of law".
Proceedings in these cases were initiated by the Court on a petition of a person who had not
suffered any personal wrong , or on a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan or on the
basis of newspaper reports.(9)
Judiciary
The flurry of judicial activism is now being witnessed in the Pakistani Courts, appears to be a
well co-ordinated effort of the judiciary. The most conscious effort is being introduced owing to
the fact that the people seemingly do not respect the Common Law which they feel has been
imported into the country, efforts are being made to introduce the Pakistani style and culture in
the judgments which could on the one hand be shorter and on the other hand maintain there
standard and their link with international legal scholarship.
Judiciary is working for the elimination of Bonded Labor at District, Provincial and Federal
level.
Session Courts are empowered at District level for the liberty of those laborers who are
entangled in the Bonded Labor situation.
At provincial level, High Courts have jurisdiction to hear the cases against Bonded
Labor.
Public Interest Litigation is a type of litigation that eradicates social evils through the
agency of LAW. This effort, I may explain, is being undertaken strictly within the
parameters of the Constitution of Pakistan and quite consistently with its provisions.

a. Article 184(3) empowers the Supreme Court to pass any appropriate order to remedy
a legal wrong.
b. Article 187 (1) of the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to issue such
directions as may be necessary for doing complete justice in any case or matters
before it.
P a g e | 13

c. Article 189 says that the decisions of Supreme Court shall be binding on the
subordinate judiciary. In addition, all executive and judicial authorities are required
to act in aid of the Supreme Court under Art 190 of the Constitution of Islamic
Republic of Pakistan 1973.
d. Supreme Court of Pakistan has jurisdiction to take suo-moto action upon the
telegram or complaint of bonded laborers.
e. While adjudicating such cases, the Courts relaxed the rules of procedure. In several
cases the rules regarding Court Fee, filing of affidavits, engaging Lawyers etc., were
dispensed with.
Bonded Labour and the Government Intervention for the Preventions:
Most of us believe that slavery has never existed in Pakistan and bonded labor ended 13 years
ago when the Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1992 was adopted by the National
Assembly. But the fact is that this law abolished bonded labor only on paper, and not in reality.
Labour and Human Resource Department
As the complaint of any male/female bonded labourer is received to Labour Department, the
concerned officer morally and legally helps the applicant at the spot. Being gender sensitive, the
labour department should also keep in mind the female and their issues. They must be
encouraged to bring their issues forward and this can be done by having a separate desk to
listento female agendas under the same roof. The availability of a female labour officer can
encouragefemales to come forward and highlight their issues.

Programs and facilities for the rehabilitation and welfare of the freed male/female bonded
labourer is the responsibility of Labour Department. Moreover, all the recovery cases against
Brick Kiln Owners can be filed before Assistant Director Labour welfare and Authority under
payment of wages Act of the concerned District. An application for death grant or marriage grant
should be given to Labour Department.
P a g e | 14

Home Department
Bonded Labourers may also apply to Home Department Government of respective province for
their grievances. The number of female seats in the national and provincial assembly will be
helpful in furthering this concept. Women perspective in policy making and decision making is
quite essential and basic, since only female can feel and reflect the need of women. Mostly, a
woman has both productive and reproductive roles to play and they carry a lot of burden in this
regard. Solutions to their problems will not only empower them financially but will also add
towards the economic welfare of the country.
Law Department
It is the responsibility of Law Department that recommends to legislature the necessary
amendments in the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992 in accordance with present
facts and circumstances and implements the law in accordance with its true spirit. It is also
mentioned here that all the concerned information must be sent to Law Department. Sex
disaggregated data comprising the number of male/female bonded labour cases will lead to a fair
decision making by the judiciary.
District Government
District Nazim is the head of District Government and is the chairman of District Vigilance
Committee (DVC). It is their responsibility to ensure women participation in the process of
vigilance committees. The meetings should be conducted at a place where women can easily
come and provide their input, or they should be provided transport otherwise. the DVC must hire
female staff also. District Nazim must call at least one meeting of DVC in every month and make
assurance the meeting of DVC through DOL. He must inspect the workplaces fromtime to time
where bonded labour situation created and take strict action to eliminate male/female bonded
labour. The DVC secretary (DOL) sends the minutes of meeting of DVC to labour department
respective province. It is the responsibility of every person of society that all the information
about bonded labour must put up in the meeting of DVC through DOL or take into the notice of
District Nazim.
P a g e | 15

Ineffective Legislation
The Bonded Labour (System) Abolition Act 1992, created to eradicate this practice was initially
considered a major intervention on the part of the State. However, 15 years down the road,
bonded labour is far from abolished.
A recent report from Anti-Slavery International prepared in association with PILER in July 2008
stated that the Government had failed to implement the National Policy and Plan of Action
(2001) for the abolition of Bonded Labour and Rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers (an
extension of the 1992 Bonded Labour System Abolition Act)(12).
In 2002, a Bonded Labour Fund was established as part of the law for the welfare of the children
of released bonded labourers, the majority of whom are scheduled castes. Six years later a
substantial portion of the funds remain unused and held by government and the released bonded
labourers continue to live in subhuman conditions in temporary camps on the outskirts of
Hyderabad according to a joint NGO alternative report for CERD (13).
Possible Interventions to Redress the Situation
The overview of bonded labour in Pakistan presents the stark reality and continued existence of
this problem throughout the country but specifically in the agricultural, brick making and mining
industries. Despite the prevalence of the problem however, there also exists potential for redress.
This toolkit summarizes some of the recommendations made in the overview and suggests that
these are used in specific advocacy and training techniques.
Lobbying of Influential Persons
Second, the lobbying of potentially influential persons in specific issues is also an important
advocacy tool. For instance, detailed lobbying programs can be developed for the issues of
minimum wages in the agricultural sector or brick kiln industry or sub-contracting in the mining
industry. An additional area for lobbying could be in calling for the regularization of tenancy
laws. Lobbying could also target trade unions particularly the export oriented industries where
minimum educational provisions can be pushed for.
P a g e | 16

Training of Organizations
Capacity building and training of partner organizations in innovative or effective rehabilitation
processes can help in improving the long term sustainability of re-settlement efforts. Training in
community mobilization skills can also be extended to organizations intending to make micro
finance interventions in particularly distressed communities. Training of government officials
can be developed in record keeping as well as in enhancing their monitoring and vigilance
mechanisms. This list of proposed advocacy measures is not exhaustive. It offers the trainer
some interesting points of departure that can be taken from a discussion of the prevalence of
bonded labour in the country.
Non Implementation
Pakistan benefits from an excellent legal foundation for eradicating bonded labour. Apart from
various international conventions which have been ratified by the country, the Constitution,
Supreme Court rulings and Acts of Parliament also proscribe the use of forced labour. The issue
is that of non-implementation and is rooted in either political unwillingness or inability to
implement the law.

P a g e | 17

Conclusion
Bonded labor is one of the biggest problems the world faces today, and it is equally prevalent in
almost every part of the world. This article reflects on the insights of two cases which revolve
around this problem and the steps taken by the authorities, legal fraternity and the government to
tackle the issue. Recently in Pakistan a lawsuit had been filed in effect to ban bonded labor
within the country which directly violates the human rights of the population. The imposition has
subsequently been implemented by government measures and was backed up by legal
judgments. In the same year in the USA, another lawsuit had been filed against a large
corporation which was engaged in the activity to bond labor in order to get more productivity
without extra compensation to the workers. This caused great amounts of human rights
violations.













P a g e | 18

References

Ahmed, M. S. (2000). Beggars of Today are Not Poor. Business Recorder 21 October 2000.
Karachi.
Anwar, M. A. (2014). Bonded Beggary' Rampant. Dawn 16, June 2014. Islamabad.
Javed, S., Jillani, Z. (1997). Child Labour in Islamabad. Islamabad: Society for the Protection of
the
Rights of the Child (SPARC).
Naz, S. I. (2000). Menace of Professional Beggars. Dawn 7 October 2000. Karachi
Zahra, A. (2001). The Ubiquitous Begging Bowl. The News. 9 September 2001. Karachi
ILO report. 2001. Forced Labour. Retrieved on 19 june from: www.AntiSlavery.org