Social Responsibility: ‘Brick kiln workers should get security’

HYDERABAD: A seminar titled ‘Safe Keeping of Brick Kiln Workers through Social Protection’ was organised on Friday by The Society for Protection of Rights of Children. The organisation’s national manager, Kashif Bajeer, blamed brick kiln owners for the plight of the workers. “They are required to contribute an amount equal to five per cent of a worker’s wage for their security, but most of them do not do this.” According to the statistics collected by the organisation, there are more than 100 kilns in Tando Hyder area of Hyderabad. Each of them employs between 100 and 150 workers. “We have witnessed instances where an owner gives a loan to a worker, who ends up becoming a bonded labourer,” said Zahid Thebo, a member of the organisation.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2012.