Brick Kiln Analysis, Categories, Problems and solutions of working labour  A Survey Report conducted in NWFP

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Brick Kiln Analysis, Categories, Problems and solutions of working labour  A Survey Report conducted in NWFP By Nasim Jan Khalil,Niamatulla Khalil and Faqir Muhammad executive members Shama Welfare Organization (SWO) Peshawar and Azad Batta Kisht welfare Union NWFP.

AIM: The purpose of this survey report is to project those problems faced by the brick kilns labour as well as to explore those hiden unpaid labour which are compled to work with their families allthough their age is for getting education and healthy activities instead of working in hard enivronment with their cute and soft physique.The role performed by labour in the brick kiln in underage are called child labour.This survey shows the percentagre of child labour in various section of brick kiln conducted surveys in difftrent brick kiln markets of NWFP. Scope: It includes the major areas(brick kiln markets) in those areas of NWFP where brick kilns are in abondence.This survey shows the wages ,the number of labour,%age of child labour and a brief description of various section of brick kiln.it also highlights the statistics of child labour in various locations of the districts of NWFP.It also includes some case studies of child and bonded labour with explaining laws and solutions related to these child and bonded labour(suggestions). Background The oldest shaped bricks found date back to 7,500 B.C. They have been found in Çayönü, in the upper Tigris region, and in south east Anatolia close to Diyarbakir. Other more recent findings, dated between 7,000 and 6,395 B.C., come from Jericho and Catal Hüyük. From archaeological evidence, the invention of the fired brick (as opposed to the considerably earlier sun-dried mud brick) is believed to have arisen in about the third millennium BC.Examples of the civilizations who used mudbrick are the ancient Egyptians and the Indus Valley Civilization, where it was used exclusively. In particular, it is evident from the ruins of Buhen, Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.

2 A normal brick kiln consist of 60-160 labours .The backing capacity of brick kiln is 400000700000 bricks usually completed a circle in a month. The materials used in making mud bricks are usually clay, sand, water and firewood. The operation begins with digging the earth.

The clay is mixed with water to prepare a past.kacha (unbaked) brick are prepared from this paste with the help of moulds. Contract labour (which sometimes includes their families) carries out this work. This process is followed by baking, locally known as jalai (burning).The final process is called niklai which means carrying the bricks out of the kilns for onward transportation to the market. Fig1: A typical Bull’s Trench Kiln (BTK)

Material and Methods Data collection The survey was conducted in the following areas of NWFP where there brick kilns

were in majority called brick kiln markets. The selection of survey is random as mentioned above only major areas of brick kiln were surveyed and analyzed. The working labor including male, female and the children of different sections of brick kiln were interviewed. The areas where interviews were conducted and surveyed are: 1. District Peshawar: The number of brick kiln in all areas of District Peshawar is about 380 (but only the major area (markets) were visited i.e. about 244 brick kilns markets as shown in table 3) including: Kohat Road,Ghari Qamardin,Ghari Attah Muhammad,Bahader Kaley,Ahmad Khel,Dora Road Toor Baba,Saband and Pushtakhara Bala Bara Road,Acheni,Zangali Kohat

Road,Pandu

Inqilab

Road,

Sera

Khawra

Matni,SuriZai

Badshahi

Road,Baghbanan,Mera Kachri,Shamshatu Road Khari Qila,Jaluzai Road,Urmar Mera etc.

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2. District Nowshera: The numbers of Brick kiln are about 16(only 09 brick kilns were visited) including areas of Khat kaley, Nowshera Kallan, and Peer Pai Zakhel etc.

3. District Mardan: There are 40 number of brick kiln in Mardan District including areas “Jalala,Takht Bai,Gulshan Mera,Hatyan,Lund Khwar,Kabul Rever,Sherin Kutey,Par Hoti Mardan” etc.

4. District HariPur: Number of Brick kilns are 180 including areas “Hazara Road,Mureed Abad,Shareef Abad,Raja Guhar,Ayubia” etc.

5. District Sawabi: 18 number of brick kilns are working in the district including areas Shewa, Shekh Jana Road, Sota Sharif etc.

6. District Banu: The Number of Brick kiln are 46 including areas Nizam Bazar Road, Banu Road, Ashraf Abad etc. S.No 1 2 3 4 5 6

District Peshawar Nowshera Mardan HariPur Sawabi Banu

No of Brick kiln 380 16 40 180 18 46 Table1

46

Banu Sawabi

No of Brick kiln in different Districts

18

HariPur

180 40

Mardan Nowshera

16

Peshawar

380 0

100

200

300

400

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Child labor in Different Section of brick kiln: 1. Pathera (‫)ﭘﺘﻬﻴﺮا‬: The labor involve in making Kacha bricks (unbaked) from clay with the help of moulds of different sizes. According to labour department the minimum wages rate of a normal (size 6” x 4”) raw brick is Rs.270350/1000.simillary the wage of tile (Choka) sizing 10” x 5” is Rs.320-550/1000 and Rs.400-600/1000 for size 12” x 5”.Usualy the tile are made by highly skilled person of pathera.The number of pathera’s whole family working in a normal brick kiln ranges from 3040(one mould per family is distributed among each family).Each family consist 3-5 of adult male/female and children. Thus pathera community in a brick kiln consists of 120-200 persons. Each family is given a mould and now it is the responsibility of family to make unbaked bricks. According to the survey, in a normal pathera family following labor is involved: Adult (male/female) in a family =

02

Adult (male/female) in a brick kiln=

60-80

Children (both gender) =

01-03

Thus in a normal brick kiln number of child labor (both gender) =

60-90

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2. Kharkar (‫)ﺧﺮﮐﺎر‬:

The duties of kharkar consist of taking sun dried raw bricks from the field to brick furnace (Tandoor) by donkeys, horses and mules etc. They also line up the bricks in a systematic order for baking in the furnace. In this section mostly young and children work. The children are used for guiding the donkeys/mules/horses to the desired destination and, young ones do loading, unloading and arranging the bricks in the furnace. Number of animals in a normal brick factory are 20-30 and the labour involved are about 15-18(only male). They also work on wage of Rs.90-110@ per 1000. The average number of child labor involved in kharkar community, in a normal brick kiln=07 3. Jalaiwala (Fire Man)‫ﺟﻼﺋﯽ واﻻ‬ Their task is to bake the unbaked bricks arranged in the furnace. This section consists of 7-8 semi skilled and skilled people, headed by a highly skilled worker called “Mistri (‫”)ﻣﺴﺘﺮﯼ‬. They work in the burning heat of June July (50-70 Co) and they go to the furnace after every 30 minutes for fueling. There duties change after every 12-hour. Timing: 07 am to 01pm (02 persons work in first shift) 01pm to 07 am (02 people Number of child labor=Nil

6 4. Niklai labor (‫)ﻧﮑﻼﺋﯽ واﻻ‬: Their task is to take out the backed bricks from the furnace after backing process is completed with the help of wheelbarrows etc. Formerly they do the said work by caring 20-25 bricks on their heads. Their wages are @ Rs.30-45/1000.The number in a normal brick kiln is 12-15.There works is very hard, tough and dustiest. Number of child labor=Nil 5. Safai labour (‫)ﻧﮑﻼﺋﯽ واﻻ‬: The main task of safai labor is cleaning and grading of bricks. Their numbers is range from 5-8 in a normal brick kiln. The work of this section is very tough and demanding. Child labor=Nil 6. Rath (sand supplier) labour: There duty is to provide sand and soil to the brick-making field. They range from 3-5 in a normal brick factory. Child labor=1-2 Besides above labor there are Munshi, Sub-Munshi and watchman (Chukidar). All these three are only salaried person in a brick kiln. The above-mentioned working labours of brick kiln are leading their lives in very miserable and inhuman conditions. No attention by the government authorities have so far been given for their social security, health, education, time frame of duty hours, work conditions and other facilities available to other industrial workers. Due to the lack of interest by the Government they are rated as the most deprived community of the society.

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S.No

Sections of brick kiln

No of adult

No of child

Total No

labor (M/F)

labor (both

of labor

Wages/salary

%age in a brick kiln

sex) 1

Pathera (‫)ﭘﺘﻬﻴﺮا‬

60-80

60-90

120-200

Unpaid

47.5%

2

Kharkar(‫)ﺧﺮﮐﺎر‬

08-09

07

15-18

Paid

42%

(But exploited)

3

Fire Man‫ﺟﻼﺋﯽ واﻻ‬

07-08

Nil

07-08

Paid

0%

4

Niklai labor ( ‫ﻧﮑﻼﺋﯽ‬ 12-15 ‫)واﻻ‬ Safai labor ( ‫ ﻧﮑﻼﺋﯽ‬05-08 ‫)واﻻ‬ Rath(sand supplier) 02-04 labor

Nil

12-15

Paid

0%

Nil

05-08

Paid

0%

01

03-05

Paid

12.5%

5 6

(But exploited)

Table 2

Empirical issues The exploiting factor of brick kiln owner/contractor: The Peshgi (advance) system is a form of bonded labour, which allows employers to keep workers as virtual slaves if a cash advance, has not been repaid. The Supreme Court formally abolished it 12 years ago, but the employers are trying to implement it again. The primary reason for bonded labour is debt owned by an employee to his employer. The employer gives loans to his workers and in return workers (and their families) are ‘bound’ to work for the same employer until the loan is repaid. Due to extremely low wages and manipulation of the debt by the employer, most of the workers are illiterate and they do not know how much money is being repaid, taking advantage of most labor’s illiteracy, the amount owned typically does not decrease, and can even be passed on from one generation to the next. The most suffering (affected) among these bonded labours is patheri; because he/she does not work alone, it consists of the whole family including women and children. They usually get loan from employer for marriages of their children, funeral charges for their deaths etc. This process of loan goes from one generation to generation and they never are able to get ride of the curse. They are inherited from parents and some time grant parents in form of bond labor.

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Suggestions for the improvement of Scio-Economic condition of brick kiln labours : 1. Government should immediately implement forced labour elimination law 1992, 1995 and ILO convention 29,105,182. Moreover to take all possible steps for restoration of bonded labour. 2. Government should publish report on National Planning for elimination of child labour 3. Government should reconstitute District care taking Committees and to make theses more effective 4. The Provincial Government must abolish the ineffective committees through strict monitoring system. 5. Residential colonies must be constructed for brick kiln labour from the fund allocated for bond labour on 7th May 2005 by Federal Ministry of Labour. 6. Meeting of National Standing Committees on elimination of bonded labour should be called immediately. 7. Labour law should be applicable on labour working in informal Departments. Also contact system should be abolished to ensure job security of the labour. 8. According to Minimum Wage Award, Rs.442.43/1000 must be ensured. 9. Government should restore labour inspection team immediately. 10. Minimum Wage Award should be linked with increase in price of petroleum products 11. The supervisory (jamadari) system, according to which 20 bricks/1000 credited in the account of supervisor, should be abolished immediately as per Supreme Court verdicts. 12. There must be a proper Registration System for all the brick kilns by the government. 13. Social Security Card should be issued to all brick kilns labours. Moreover Rs.70, 000/for Dower Fund and Rs.2, 00,000/- Death Compensation Fund must be paid by the Government to all the brick kiln labour. 14. Bonded labour should be facilitated by issuance of NIC, and legislation must be made to eliminate the hurdles in this regard 15. Fake cases against the bonded labour must be withdrawn, as it is a strong weapon used by the owner/contractor against bonded labour for blackmailing. 16. Access must be given to bonded labour to the incentives being offered by the Govt.eg education for all, Micro Credit Schemes, NCHD project, Housing Schemes and Dot program etc.

9 17. Return of advance abuse must be abolished in order to prevent the forced sale of kidney by the bonded labour. 18. A special commission must be constituted to eliminate oppression, exploitation and forced labour from the society and especially against the brick kiln labours. 19. All political parties must ensure elimination of forced labour in their manifesto and any member of a political party found involved directly or indirectly must be declared disqualified forever. Proposed rate for Brick kiln Labor Pathera(Common Brick) ‫ﭘﺘﻬﻴﺮا‬ Niklaiwala ‫ﻧﮑﻼﺋﯽ واﻻ‬ Mistri/Munshi ‫ﻣﺴﺘﺮﯼ‬/‫ﻣﻨﺸﯽ‬ Safaiwala/koilawala ‫ﮐﻮﺋﻼ واﻻ‬/‫ﺻﻔﺎﺋﯽ‬

Wages

Labor

Wages

Rs.1000/1000 brick

Pathera (Special Brick)

Rs.1300/1000 brick)

Rs.300/1000 Brick

Kumhar/Bahraiwala ‫ﺑﻬﺮاﺋﯽ واﻻ‬/‫ﮐﻤﮩﺎر‬ Jalaiwala/Carywala ‫ﮐﻴﺮﯼ واﻻ‬/‫ﺟﻼﺋﯽ واﻻ‬

Rs.300/1000 brick

Rs.12000/Month Rs.12000/month

Rs.12000/month

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Analysis of data Table2 and Fig 2 revealed that majority of child labor exist in Peshawar i.e. 47% belongs to Pathera; while, 41% to Kharkar and 12% to rath labors in various section of a brick kiln shown in below graph. It indicates that Pathera consist of majority of child labor while rest of child labor belongs to Kharkar (donkey men) and safaiwala. Some (51%) of the labor did work for 1315 hours daily. On enquiring from the respondents about that who motivated them to work, more than half of the respondents reported that their parents have directed them to work. The interviews from the working child and some pregnant females reveal that a huge majority i.e. 80.0% was not willing to do the work but they had to do because of poverty and parents coerce. Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6 and Fig 3shows that most of child labor is in work in district Peshawar. Thus the district which needs special attention and area of brick kiln i.e. pathera, where focus should be given to eliminate this social evil from our society.

%age of child labor in a brick kiln

0%

12%

47%

41%

Fig 2

Pathera (‫)ﭘﺘﻬﻴﺮا‬ Kharkar(‫)ﺧﺮﮐﺎر‬ Fire Man ‫ﺟﻼﺋﯽ واﻻ‬ Niklai labor(‫)ﻧﮑﻼﺋﯽ واﻻ‬ Safai labor(‫)ﻧﮑﻼﺋﯽ واﻻ‬ Rath(sand supplier) labor

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District Peshawar S.No Description 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

No. of Brick kiln No. of Child labor

Baghbanan Road Market Baghbanan Jalozai Road Market Ooch Niher Market Inqilab Road Sori zai market Inqilab Road Pandu market Kohat Road Ghari Atta muhammad Kinal Road Ahmad khel market Kohat Road matni bypass market Kohat Road Matni market Bara Sarband Market Bara Road Achni market Total

12 41 20 30 25 10 11 20 40 15 20 244

996 3403 1600 2400 2050 830 935 1600 3200 1230 1580 19824

Table 3

District Peshawar 3403

3500

No. of brick kiln 3200

No. of child labour

3000 2400

2500

2050 2000 1580

1600

1600 1500

1230 996

1000

935

830

500 12

41

20

30

25

10

Ooch Niher M arket

Inqilab Road So ri zai market

Inqilab Road Pandu market

Kohat Road Ghari Atta muhammad

11

20

40

15

20

0 Baghbanan Ro ad M arket

Baghbanan Jalozai Road M arket

Kinal Road Ahmad khel market

Kohat Road matni bypass market

Kohat Road Bara Sarband M atni market M arket

Bara Road achni market

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District Mardan S.No 1 2 3

Description Lund Khwarh Hatyan Market Jalala Market Sherin Kotay Market Total

No of Brick kiln 18 14 8 40

No. of Child labor 1440 1092 664 3196

Table 4

District Mardan 1440

1600 1400 1200 1000

1092 664

800

No. of child labour

600 400 200 0

No. of brick kiln

18

14

8

Lund Khwarh Hatyan Market

Jalala Market

Sherin Kotay Market

13

District Nowshera S.No 1

Description Khat kaley market Total

No of Brick kiln 9 9

No. of Child labor 747 747

Table 5 District Nowshera

747 800 600

No. of brick kiln No. of child labour

400 200 0

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Khat kaley market

District Charsada S.No 1

Description Utmanzai Halim Abad market Total

No. of Brick kiln 16 16

No. of Child labor 1280 1280

Table 6 District Charsadda

1280 1400 1200 1000

No. of brick kiln No. of child labour

800 600 400 200 0

16

Utmanzai Halim Abad market

14

Brick Kiln Child Labor in Four Districts 1280 747 3196

Peshawar Mardan Noshera 19824

Charsada

Fig 3 CONCLUSION

It is concluded from the results of above study that poverty is the major factor responsible for child labor followed by other reasons like lack of interest in education due to unavailability of schools and accessibility to private schools in the premises, large family size and compulsive societal behavior. The govt. and civil society should come forward in this regard to fight this social evil and improve the socio-economic condition of this deprived community of the society.

References: 1. The survey is carried out by members of SWO and Azad Batta khest Union with financial assistance of PILOR.The data is collected by team by visiting many brick kiln but only those brick kiln are listed here which are in cluster in specific area. 2.

Environmental assessment checklists and guidelines, NWFP environmental protection agency.