Protection of Rights of
Vulnerable Labour Groups
(Forced Labour, Child Labour &
Women Workers)
Ali Raza
Pakistan
Vulnerability
• Groups encountering discriminatory
treatment at the work place.
• Vulnerability refers to the inability to
withstand the effects of a hostile
environment.
Bonded Labour
Women Workers
Child Labour
Vulnerable
Groups
Minorities
Ethnic Groups
Disadvantaged/
Susceptible
Groups
3
Bonded Labour
• Bonded Labour, is a typical form of forced
labour
• "bonded labour" means any labour or
service rendered under the bonded
labour system
Bonded Labour System
Agreement entered
into by the debtor with
the creditor to the
effect of
Peshgi
(advance
payment)
forfeit the right
to appropriate
or sell property
Customary/
social
obligation
forfeit the right
to move freely
forfeit the
freedom of
employment
Any economic
consideration
without wages
or for
nominal wages
5
Political
Bonded
Labour
Causes/
Effects
Social
Economic
6
Child Labour
Any work that adversely affects the physical,
psychological, moral and educational
development of a child is termed as Child
Labour.
Agriculture
construction
Fisheries
Mining
Fisheries
Beggary
Home Based
Work
Sectors
Domestic
Labour
Textile &
Garments
Glass Bangles
Sex Industry
Packing
8
Poverty Cycle
Physical
Deterioration
Economic
Disparity
Implications
of Child
Labour
Social
Instability
Psychological
Problems
Intellectual
Growth
9
Women Workers
• Women often have to face discrimination at
work.
• Women participation rate in the labour force
of Pakistan is 15.5 % whereas for men it is
49.5 %
• 50% of the society’s human capital is
underutilized.
Female Participation Rate
18.00%
16.00%
14.00%
12.00%
10.00%
Female Participation Rate
8.00%
6.00%
4.00%
2.00%
0.00%
1999-2000
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-2010
11
Challenges
• Lack of awareness and social sensitization
• Religious, cultural and social issues
• Legislations have certain inconsistencies with the
international standards
• Legislations regarding gender equality are not sufficient
• Penalties under the law are less than the benefit
derived from exploitation
• Laws development
• Inexistence of laws in some sectors
• Capacity and capability of the government departments
Major Achievements/Results
• Child Labour
–
–
–
–
–
Sialkot success story
End to use of children as camel jockeys
Child Protection Bureaus established at divisional level
Worst form of Child Labour project is being run successfully
Redrafting of the Child Labour law
• Bonded Labour
– Special campaign for coverage of brick kiln workers under factories act
and social security net
– Success of EBLIK and its replication as EBLIK 2 in four more districts
– Amendments in the Bonded Labour law are underway
• Women Workers
– Women Empowerment Package, 2012
– Women development department established Punjab
– Gender sensitization of labour laws underway
•
•
•
•
•
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•
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•
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Way Forward
Education & Social awareness
Compulsory schooling
Sensitive policy making and legislation
Proper implementation of labour laws & capacity building of
departments
Expansion of social security net
Market based vocational training
Provision of micro finance
Encouragement of unionism
Elimination of black economy
Development of educational infrastructure
Implementation of technologically advanced processes in
child labour intensive sectors