Brick kilns in Pakistan trap millions of families in debt and bonded labor.
Workers, including children, earn meager wages and struggle to repay loans.
Kiln owners keep a significant portion of the workers' earnings.
Health risks from pollution and chronic breathing problems are prevalent in brick kilns.
Efforts by NGOs aim to free workers and improve their living conditions.
Why do families in brick kilns end up in debt?
—Families borrow money to pay off hospital bills, and without access to bank accounts or literacy, they have no other options.
Are children involved in brick kiln labor?
—Yes, estimates suggest that about a third of workers in brick kilns are underage, and in some cases, even more than half are not even 10 years old.
How does debt bondage in brick kilns relate to modern-day slavery?
—The legal definition of debt bondage covers what happens in brick kilns, and reports suggest that nearly 25 million people are trapped in modern-day slavery across Asia and the Pacific regions alone.
What are the health risks associated with working in brick kilns?
—Workers in brick kilns often suffer from chronic breathing problems and various health issues due to prolonged exposure to dust, pollutants, and extreme temperatures.
What efforts are being made to address the issues in brick kilns?
—NGOs like the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) work to free workers from bonded labor, improve working conditions, and provide support for their resettlement.
00:01Families in brick kilns in Pakistan are trapped in a cycle of debt and bonded labor.
01:10Workers spend long days making bricks under harsh conditions to repay loans.
02:04Brick kilns in Pakistan have chronic breathing problems and health risks due to pollution.
03:35Estimates suggest that about a third of workers in brick kilns are underage.
09:35NGOs like SPARC work to free workers from bonded labor and improve their living conditions.
