Afghanistan resources

Child & bonded labour in Afghanistan's brick kilns. New Survey highlights obstacles to ending practice.

07 February 2012

KABUL (ILO News) – A new report on bonded labour in Afghan brick kilns found more than half of the workers surveyed were children, with the majority of these workers under the age of 14.

Child and bonded labourers in Afghan brick kilns

07 February 2012

A report on child and bonded labour in Afghan brick kilns, commissioned by the ILO and conducted by Samuel Hall Consulting, has found more than half of the workers surveyed were children, with the majority under 14, and that the brick kilns rely almost entirely on bonded labour. Most children began working between seven and eight years old, and by the age of nine almost 80 per cent of children are working. The brick kilns rely almost entirely on debt bondage and workers and their families are tied to a kiln by the need to pay off loans taken for basic necessities. The survey was carried out in two provinces of Afghanistan, Nangarhar and Kabul. Full details can be found at www.ilo.org/asia

Buried in bricks - PowerPoint Presentation

07 February 2012

Buried in bricks - Q&A

07 February 2012

Buried in bricks: Bonded labour in Afghanistan

06 February 2012

Bonded labour of adults and children in brick kilns is one of the most prevalent, yet least known forms of hazardous labour in Afghanistan. A new ILO study on the phenomenon marks the first attempt to provide a better understanding of the dynamics of bonded labour in two provinces of the country. ILO Online spoke with Samuel Hall consulting, lead author of the study.

Buried in bricks: A rapid assessment of bonded labour in brick kilns in Afghanistan [Executive summary]

06 February 2012

This study provides an accurate depiction of bonded labour in brick kilns in two provinces of Afghanistan (Kabul and Nangarhar), to illustrate the demand and supply-side of one of the most prevalent, yet least known, forms of hazardous labour in Afghanistan.

Buried in bricks: A rapid assessment of bonded labour in brick kilns in Afghanistan

06 February 2012

This study provides an accurate depiction of bonded labour in brick kilns in two provinces of Afghanistan (Kabul and Nangarhar), to illustrate the demand and supply-side of one of the most prevalent, yet least known, forms of hazardous labour in Afghanistan.

Employers Organizations: Enhanced effectiveness in membership promotion,retention, lobbying, services and sharing of policies,services on labour-trade issues

04 October 2011

The workshop is organized by International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin and the Dutch Employers Cooperation Programme (DECP) in collaboration with Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ACT-EMP) in Geneva and the support of the ILO Offices in New delhi and Sri Lanka to strengthen the employers’ organizations to perform more effectively by increasing the skills of key personnel and their capacity to boost the effectiveness of EOs in South Asia by sharing of practices on membership promotion /retention, services, lobbying in general, and with specific reference to lobbying/services on labour related issues in trade.

New project to improve Afghan labour laws and administration, promote decent work

02 June 2011

(LO NEWS – Kabul) A new project to strengthen labour law and administration in Afghanistan will be launched today by the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations specialised agency dealing with work and work-related issues.

Speaking notes at the launch of the Decent Work Country Programme for Afghanistan

17 July 2010

By Mr Herve Berger, ILO Senior Coordinator/Representative for Afghanistan, 17 July 2010