Children at kilns

Pakistan is a country where even attempts by the state to do good are met with resistance. In the middle of January, the Punjab government began a crackdown on brick kilns that were employing children. The government announced it would register FIRs under the Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Ordinance against any brick-kiln owner found to be employing a child. The government also said it would give stipends to the families of such children to support them in joining school. Child labour has been a malice that Pakistani society has been unable to get rid of. Child labour at brick kilns around the country continues in slave-like conditions, with entire families bonded to the mafia of brick-kiln owners. In such a context, any action taken against brick kilns employing children is the first step against bonded brick-kiln labour in the country. The response from the strong brick-kiln owners lobby was to call a three-day strike and take out rallies protesting against the government’s actions.

While brick-kiln owners have claimed that employing children reduces the quality of the brick, there is little doubt that child workers are seen at most brick kilns scattered throughout Punjab’s landscape. The owners propose that the government should arrest the parents of children who work in brick kilns. Protests against brick-kiln owners have also been organised by brick kiln workers who have asked the government to chalk out a clear mechanism to disburse the promised funds to the parents of children working at brick kilns. It is good to see the government sticking to its guns to prevent this medieval practice. It has also promised to put children recovered at kilns into school within the next three months. Over 500 cases have been reported with 498 brick-kiln owners arrested in 2,517 raids across the province. This is the first significant action the government has taken against child labour at brick kilns in the last decade. The government is also looking into amending the Employment of Children Act 1991 to make the punishments stronger for those in violation, and has attempted to regulate the giving of advance money to brick-kiln workers to a maximum of six months. The labour department’s own data suggests that around 23,642 children below the age of 14 are working in Punjab’s brick kilns. The brick-kiln owners strike may put the government’s resolve to test. In response, brick-kiln workers organisations are continuing to organise to enforce the ordinance. The government has taken a holistic initiative which offers incentive to families to stop their children from continuing to work in kilns. Serious resolve will be needed in the coming months to ensure the elimination of child labour from Punjab’s brick kilns. The other provinces should try to follow Punjab's example.