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.

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Vulnerable Groups

Bonded Labour

Women Workers

Ethnic Groups

Disadvantaged/ Susceptible Groups

Minorities

Child Labour

Bonded Labour

• Bonded Labour, is a typical form of forced labour• "bonded labour" means any labour or

service rendered under the bonded labour system

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Bonded Labour System

Agreement entered into by the debtor with the creditor to the effect of

Peshgi (advance payment)

Customary/ social

obligation

Any economic consideration

forfeit the right to appropriate or sell property

forfeit the right to move freely

forfeit the freedom of

employment

without wages or for

nominal wages

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Bonded LabourCauses/ Effects

Political

EconomicSocial

Child Labour

Any work that adversely affects the physical, psychological, moral and educational development of a child is termed as Child Labour.

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Sectors

Agricultureconstruction

Fisheries

Home Based Work

Textile & Garments

Sex IndustryPacking

Glass Bangles

Domestic Labour

Beggary

Mining

Fisheries

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Implications of Child Labour

Poverty Cycle

Economic Disparity

Intellectual GrowthPsychologicalProblems

Social Instability

Physical Deterioration

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.

111999-2000 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-2010

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

18.00%

Female Participation Rate

Female Participation Rate

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

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