Bonded labour can be addressed by reducing conditions that perpetrate bondage like situation- Experts
National Consultation on Abolition of Bonded Labour and Reducing Vulnerability to Bondage in India through Promotion of Decent Work, New Delhi
NEW DELHI (ILO NEWS): Bonded labour can be tackled by addressing the root causes of bondage, eliminating the conditions that perpetrate bondage and by effective implementation of the law, says experts present at the National Consultation on Bonded Labour organized jointly by Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Bonded labour in India is abolished by law, but still persists, though the forms of bondage have changed.
While recognizing the above, a joint initiative of the MoLE, State Labour Departments and the ILO was launched in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar to bring about a significant reduction in household vulnerability to bondage through the promotion of Decent Work. The initiative targets migrant workers in brick kilns, who often enter into ‘neo-bondage” or short-term bondage. Using a 4-pronged convergence and prevention approach, the initiative promotes the rights of workers, ensures social protection and access to services for workers and their family members, introduces workplace improvement measures, and empowers women and men workers through rights-based awareness education and by improving recruitment systems and working conditions.
The challenge of inter-state coordination for seasonal migrants, who are most vulnerable to bondage, has been addressed by defining the roles and responsibilities of sending and receiving states in form of Memorandum of Understanding, which are signed between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha (June 2012) and between Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar (Feb 2013).
“Women and men need to work in freedom and with dignity. It is important to reach out to most vulnerable workers, who remain hidden and unreachable and create an environment of decent employment and income for them. It is vital that these workers have collective strength and voice and that their rights are not only protected but also promoted”, says Ms Tine Staermose, Director, DWT for South Asia and Country Office for India, ILO.
Calling prevalence of bonded labour in India a shame, the Hon’ble Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Government of India, Mr. Kodikunnil Suresh said, “Districts Magistrates should not be complacent when they receive complaints regarding forced labour or bonded labour, but take strict and immediate action. There is also a need for better coordination between Ministry of Labour and Employment and other social ministries, such as Ministry of Social Justice and Ministry of Tribal Affaires etc.”
The national meeting which witnessed the participation of all the major stakeholders working on the issue of bonded labour, underlined the importance of effective involvement of central and state governments, coordination and convergence amongst different departments at state and local level. The need of working together with different stakeholders through a consultative process, involving employers’ organizations, trade unions, civil society and media was reiterated. The experts present also echoed the need for up scaling of the decent work approach and urged the need to strengthen the implementation of the law.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) 2012 Report on Global Estimates of Forced Labour, there are 20.9 million people are victims of forced labour globally, trapped in jobs into which they were coerced or deceived and which they cannot leave. Out of these 21 million, 11.4 million (55%) are women and girls and 9.5 million (45%) are men and boys. What is more worrisome is that 5.5 million (26%) are children below the age of 18 years. In terms of absolute numbers, the Asia–Pacific region accounts for the majority (11.7 million or 56%) of all victims of forced labour. Bonded labour has been prevalent in India, as in other countries of south Asia, for many years. Its existence was first officially acknowledged, and the practice outlawed, in the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976. While action has since then been taken by government, trade unions and civil society to address the problem, the practice persists to this day.
The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 is a central act which assigns the responsibility for the identification, release and rehabilitation of bonded labour to the state governments. The Act provides for the roles of Vigilance Committees, District Magistrate/District Collector, Sub Divisional Magistrate and other Magistrates in the identification, release and rehabilitation process. The Ministry of Labour launched the Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 1978, wherein the Centre and the State jointly funds a grant for each released bonded labourer, that since May 2000, amounts to INR20,000.
About the International Labour Organization (ILO)
The unique tripartite structure of the ILO gives an equal voice to workers, employers and governments to ensure that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in labour standards and in shaping policies and programmes. The main aims of the ILO are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
The ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team (DWT) for South Asia and Country Office for India at New Delhi, is a centre of excellence to realize Decent Work for sustainable social and economic development in South Asia. The Office provides knowledge-based, high quality technical and advisory services to tripartite constituents in Member States on a wide range of issues and builds partnerships to effectively promote ILO values and principles in support of the work-programmes of the ILO Country Offices in the South Asia subregion.
Ms. Tine Staermose, Director, ILO- DWT for South Asia and Country Office for India. Tel: +91 11 24602102, Email
Ms. Bharti Birla, National Project Manager, Reudcing Vulnerability to Bondage in India, ILO-Country Office for India, Tel: +91 11 4750 9240, Email
While recognizing the above, a joint initiative of the MoLE, State Labour Departments and the ILO was launched in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar to bring about a significant reduction in household vulnerability to bondage through the promotion of Decent Work. The initiative targets migrant workers in brick kilns, who often enter into ‘neo-bondage” or short-term bondage. Using a 4-pronged convergence and prevention approach, the initiative promotes the rights of workers, ensures social protection and access to services for workers and their family members, introduces workplace improvement measures, and empowers women and men workers through rights-based awareness education and by improving recruitment systems and working conditions.
The challenge of inter-state coordination for seasonal migrants, who are most vulnerable to bondage, has been addressed by defining the roles and responsibilities of sending and receiving states in form of Memorandum of Understanding, which are signed between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha (June 2012) and between Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar (Feb 2013).
“Women and men need to work in freedom and with dignity. It is important to reach out to most vulnerable workers, who remain hidden and unreachable and create an environment of decent employment and income for them. It is vital that these workers have collective strength and voice and that their rights are not only protected but also promoted”, says Ms Tine Staermose, Director, DWT for South Asia and Country Office for India, ILO.
Calling prevalence of bonded labour in India a shame, the Hon’ble Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Government of India, Mr. Kodikunnil Suresh said, “Districts Magistrates should not be complacent when they receive complaints regarding forced labour or bonded labour, but take strict and immediate action. There is also a need for better coordination between Ministry of Labour and Employment and other social ministries, such as Ministry of Social Justice and Ministry of Tribal Affaires etc.”
The national meeting which witnessed the participation of all the major stakeholders working on the issue of bonded labour, underlined the importance of effective involvement of central and state governments, coordination and convergence amongst different departments at state and local level. The need of working together with different stakeholders through a consultative process, involving employers’ organizations, trade unions, civil society and media was reiterated. The experts present also echoed the need for up scaling of the decent work approach and urged the need to strengthen the implementation of the law.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) 2012 Report on Global Estimates of Forced Labour, there are 20.9 million people are victims of forced labour globally, trapped in jobs into which they were coerced or deceived and which they cannot leave. Out of these 21 million, 11.4 million (55%) are women and girls and 9.5 million (45%) are men and boys. What is more worrisome is that 5.5 million (26%) are children below the age of 18 years. In terms of absolute numbers, the Asia–Pacific region accounts for the majority (11.7 million or 56%) of all victims of forced labour. Bonded labour has been prevalent in India, as in other countries of south Asia, for many years. Its existence was first officially acknowledged, and the practice outlawed, in the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976. While action has since then been taken by government, trade unions and civil society to address the problem, the practice persists to this day.
The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 is a central act which assigns the responsibility for the identification, release and rehabilitation of bonded labour to the state governments. The Act provides for the roles of Vigilance Committees, District Magistrate/District Collector, Sub Divisional Magistrate and other Magistrates in the identification, release and rehabilitation process. The Ministry of Labour launched the Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 1978, wherein the Centre and the State jointly funds a grant for each released bonded labourer, that since May 2000, amounts to INR20,000.
About the International Labour Organization (ILO)
The unique tripartite structure of the ILO gives an equal voice to workers, employers and governments to ensure that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in labour standards and in shaping policies and programmes. The main aims of the ILO are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
The ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team (DWT) for South Asia and Country Office for India at New Delhi, is a centre of excellence to realize Decent Work for sustainable social and economic development in South Asia. The Office provides knowledge-based, high quality technical and advisory services to tripartite constituents in Member States on a wide range of issues and builds partnerships to effectively promote ILO values and principles in support of the work-programmes of the ILO Country Offices in the South Asia subregion.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Tine Staermose, Director, ILO- DWT for South Asia and Country Office for India. Tel: +91 11 24602102, Email
Ms. Bharti Birla, National Project Manager, Reudcing Vulnerability to Bondage in India, ILO-Country Office for India, Tel: +91 11 4750 9240, Email