Entrapped in modern-day slavery

Aug 02, 2024

ISLAMABAD: A tragic case in Pakistan has highlighted the severe conditions faced by families trapped in bonded labour. A man has reportedly entered his son into 20 years of servitude at a brick kiln in exchange for funds to bury another son who died due to inadequate medical care. This incident is part of a broader, troubling pattewrn affecting many in Pakistan’s marginalised Christian community.

The situation is particularly dire for Pakistan’s Christian minority, who are subjected to severe persecution and economic exploitation. Christians, constituting less than two per cent of Pakistan’s population, face daily threats and violence, exacerbated by the country’s oppressive bonded labour system. According to Global Christian Relief (GCR), an advocacy group focused on persecuted Christians, approximately 3.5 million people are ensnared in this form of modern-day slavery.

Bonded labour in Pakistan is fuelled by predatory loans with exorbitant interest rates. Families often take out loans between $800 and $1,000 from brick kiln owners, only to find themselves trapped in decades of labour due to meagre wages and systemic discrimination. A recent Global Christian Relief video highlighted the plight of the Iqbal family, who were bound to 15 years of labour at a kiln to repay an $898 debt incurred from a medical procedure.

The plight of Christians is compounded by their marginalised status in Pakistani society. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has designated Pakistan as a “country of particular concern,” citing deteriorating religious freedom conditions. The USCIRF’s 2024 report details increased targeting of religious minorities for their beliefs, including violence, blasphemy accusations, and forced conversions.

Peter Bhatti, founder of International Christian Voice and brother of Catholic martyr Shahbaz Bhatti, highlighted the intersection of religious oppression and extreme poverty. “Most Christians and other religious minorities come from poor backgrounds and lack the resources to seek redress,” Bhatti said. “They end up living as slaves for generations due to their economic conditions.”

Maria Lozano from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) emphasised that bonded labour is often accompanied by severe abuses, including sexual exploitation. She noted that agricultural workers also suffer from similar debt slavery imposed by landlords. “It’s akin to ownership,” Lozano remarked.

According to Andrew Crane of the Modern Slavery Engagement Forum at the UK Home Office, debt in these situations is intentionally inflated by lenders through additional fees for basic necessities, trapping families in a cycle of debt with no escape.

The problem is deeply rooted in Pakistan’s socio-economic fabric. Although the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act of 1992 outlawed bonded labour, enforcement has been lax, allowing the practice to persist. David Curry, president and CEO of Global Christian Relief, criticised the lack of governmental action, noting that the brick kiln industry benefits from this exploitative system.

Despite the grim circumstances, there are efforts to combat bonded labour. GCR’s liberation campaign aims to free 50 Pakistani families, providing them with training and resources to build independent livelihoods. Curry described how one family, after receiving aid, transitioned from brick-making to running their own business, which offers a glimmer of hope for self-sufficiency.

Education and systemic change are crucial to breaking the cycle of debt slavery. Lozano and Crane both emphasised the need for educational opportunities and addressing the root causes of exploitation, such as poverty and discrimination. “Education is the key,” said Lozano. “It is the only way to get out from this vicious cycle. Many of the people that we are speaking of … they cannot read and write. … It is a system that is going deeper and deeper and breaking many families.”

Lozano also stressed the importance of family values, noting that children left behind in harsh working conditions are particularly vulnerable.

Improving the situation for Pakistani Christians and other marginalised groups requires comprehensive reform, beginning with empowering families and communities to escape the bonds of economic exploitation. As Curry put it, “We need to rebuild their lives step by step. It’s about giving people the power to change their circumstances.”

The ongoing struggle against bonded labour highlights the urgent need for systemic change and greater international support for those ensnared in modern-day slavery. -- Register