The plight of families working in Pakistan's brick kilns is a devastating example of debt bondage, a form of modern slavery. This cycle begins with a cash advance, known as peshgi, from the kiln owner to the worker, often required for emergencies like medical needs or to survive chronic poverty.
Due to exorbitant interest rates and meager wages paid on a piece-rate basis (for every 1,000 bricks produced), workers can never fully repay the principal. The debt is often manipulated, passed down through generations, and traps entire families, including children as young as five, who are forced to work long, grueling 14-hour days in hazardous conditions.
With workers often being illiterate and from marginalized communities (including religious minorities), they are easily exploited, lack access to financial institutions, and are denied basic rights and safety measures, ensuring they remain bound to the kiln until the perpetually growing debt is cleared.
Key Facts on Brick Kiln Bondage 🧱
Scale: Estimates suggest over 1 million people, including men, women, and children, work in approximately 10,000 brick kilns in the Punjab region alone.
The Peshgi System: This system of advance loans forms the foundation of the debt bondage, making the debt almost impossible to clear due to inflated interest and low pay.
Child Labor: A 2025 report indicated that nearly 70% of bonded laborers in Pakistan are children, often denied education and exposed to toxic fumes and extreme heat.
Marginalization: Workers are disproportionately drawn from marginalized and excluded groups, such as the scheduled caste Hindus and Christians, who face high rates of illiteracy and social vulnerability, making them targets for exploitation.
Forced Conditions: Families are often forced to live at the kiln worksites, prohibited from leaving, and face threats of violence or detention of family members (especially children) if they attempt to leave before the debt is paid.
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