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Combating Bonded Labour: Legal Perspectives on Human Rights Violations

This comprehensive study on bonded labour by Barrister Zafarullah Khan delves into the philosophical basis, situational analysis, and the legal frameworks at international and national levels. It highlights the severe consequences of ignoring this issue and offers recommendations for addressing it effectively.

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Combating Bonded Labour: Legal Perspectives on Human Rights Violations

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  1. BONDED LABOUR By Barrister Zafarullah Khan

  2. Sequence • Philosophical Basis • Situational Analysis • International Law • National Law • Sind Tenancy Laws • FSC Judgment • Court’s Behaviour • Consequences of ignoring the issue • Recommendations

  3. a. Philosophical Basis

  4. Freedom as Virtue • Is Freedom a virtue? • Islamic perspective: Omar • Modern Civilization: Rousseau • Iqbal Bandagi mein ghut kay rahe jaati hay ek jooeye kam aab Aour aazadi mein behr e beikaraan hay zindagi

  5. Centrality of Human Rights • Post WWII Scenario • Determination to prevent gross violations • Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 • Conventions Such as ICCPR, ICESCR, CAT, CEDAW, ICC • Consistency of domestic laws with internationally agreed standards is an obligation

  6. Domestic Jurisdiction? • UN Charter: A (2); domestic jurisdiction Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state • No more ‘domestic jurisdiction’ • ‘Responsibility to Protect’ is being used to justify actions against states with bad HR record

  7. Centrality Of Human Rights Three pillars of IR: • Peace and Security • Development • Human Rights ‘We will not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security without development, and we will not enjoy either without respect for HR SG UN Larger Freedom Report

  8. b. Situational Analysis

  9. Forced Labour in Pakistan • Ranges from 6-8 million: PILER • Includes millions of children • Main industries, brick kilns, share croppers, carpet, glass factories, mines, leather, scavenging, domestic work

  10. c. International Law

  11. Issue of Forced Labour • Rated as most serious violations of HR • Forced labour (bonded labour) equated to slavery and slavery like practices • One of earliest human rights issues tackled by ILO • specific instruments • UN and ILO are involved

  12. UN Regime on Bonded Labour • UDHR- 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; prohibited in all forms • ICCPR -8: ditto • No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour

  13. Slavery Convention 1926 Ratified by Pakistan on 30 September 1955 Defined Slavery as: • the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised • Prohibits slavery

  14. ILO Regime on Forced Labour • Two main Conventions • C 29 of 1930, ratified by 161 countries, Pakistan (23-12-1957) • C 105 of 1957, ratified by 158 countries, Pakistan (15-2- 1960)

  15. Convention 29 • Article 2 defines forced labour “all work or service …exacted … under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily” • Requires states parties to suppress the use of forced or compulsory labour in all its forms within the shortest possible period • Illegal extraction of forced labour shall be a penal offense (Article 25)

  16. Convention 105 Member state to suppress and not to make use of any form of forced or compulsory labour: • For political coercion/ education • for economic development • As a means of labour discipline • As a punishment for strikes • As a means of any discrimination

  17. Significance of ILO Conventions • Legally binding • No space for reservations • Monitoring procedure • Monitoring is tri-partite and detailed • Non-implementation can lead to serious consequences • Only international sanctions imposing mechanism other than UN SC

  18. d. National Law

  19. Constitution 1973 ARTICLE 11(2) All forms of forced labour are prohibited

  20. Darshan Masih Case Telegram: 30 July 1988 ‘We plead for protection and bread for our family. we are brick kiln bonded labour. We have been set at liberty through the court and now three amongst us have been abducted by our owners. Our children and women are living in danger. We have filed complaint. No action taken.

  21. We are hiding like animals without protection or food. We are afraid and hungry. Please help us. We can be contacted through counsel. Our state can be inspected. We want to live like human beings. The law gives no protection to us’.

  22. Features Of Case • Article184(3): (i) enforcement of Fundamental Rights (ii) public importance • Public Interest Litigation • Article 9, 11, 14, 18, 25 PLD 1990 SC 513

  23. Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992 Preamble • Article 11 (2) prohibits all forms of forced labour • to preventing economic and physical exploitation of labour class

  24. Definition Of BL System of forced, or partly forced, labour under which a debtor enters, or has, or is presumed to have, entered into an agreement with creditor to the effect that • in consideration of an advance or in pursuance of any customary or social obligation, or for any economic consideration received by debtor

  25. Continued • would render, by himself, or through any member of his family, labour or service to creditor either without wages or for nominal wages; or • would forfeit freedom of employment or adopting other means of livelihood, or • forfeit right to appropriate or sell at market any of property or product

  26. Features • BL system shall stand abolished • Every BL shall stand freed • No person shall make advance • Any custom, tradition, practice, contract, or other instrument for BL shall be void and inoperative • Liability to repay bonded debt extinguished

  27. Features • No suit or other proceeding • Decree for recovery of bonded debt shall be deemed satisfied • Every attachment for recovery of any bonded debt shall stand vacated

  28. Features • Any sale, transfer or assignment of any property of a bonded labourer for recovery of bonded debt shall not be deemed to have created or transferred • Mortgage, charge, lien or other encumbrance for bonded debt shall stand discharged • Non Obstante Law

  29. District Magistrate’s Role • DM shall try to promote welfare of freed bonded labourer • Mobilize Govt-NGOs to bring out cases • To urge academic and vocation training • To persuade philanthropists, SWO etc to rehabilitate

  30. Penalty • 3 years imprisonment and fine • All directors/managers etc liable

  31. Procedure • Magistrate First Class • Summary trial • Cognizable • Bailable

  32. Vigilance Committees • Vigilance Committees at District level • Consisting, of representatives of area, District Administration, Bar, press, recognized Social Services and Labour‑Departments of Federal and Provincial Government

  33. Functions of VCs • advise DA on matters relating to effective implementation of law • help in rehabilitation of freed BL • provide assistance to BL

  34. Establishment Of Fund Fund shall be utilized for :- • training institutes for freed BL • legal and financial assistance to BL • Rehabilitation, welfare of freed BL

  35. Status of 1992 Act • Rules 1995 • VC Not formed • No meetings • Devolution: DM, new actors • Funds not utilized • No prosecution

  36. e. Sind Tenancy Law

  37. Sindh Tenancy Laws • GoS, ADB 2000 REPORT: 1.7 M HARIS • THATHA, DADU, BADIN, MPK, OK • Hindus • Most debt bondage SHC, 10-1-2002 • 94 Taqavi Loans petitions dismissed • S 25 Sindh Tenancy Ac 1950

  38. UNHCR Sub-Commission: May 2002 • 1992 Act to override all laws • Amend 1950 ST Act Amended 22-9-2002

  39. f. FSC Judgment

  40. FSC on Bonded Labour • 8 Shariat petition in 1992 and 1993 challenging Islamicity Act 1992 • 203 D: Jurisdiction to declare a law repugnant to the Quran and Sunnah FSC Judgment on 10-10-2005

  41. General Observations • It is Islamic • Objective of Act could not be achieved so far: daily reports of detentions • No vigilance committee formed • Factories Acts 1934 applies to BK

  42. h. Consequences of ignoring the issue

  43. Consequences of Ignoring • Source of misery and suffering to millions of hardworking human beings • Brings bad name to country and religion • Can trigger international sanctions • Policies of donors and trade partners influenced: e.g. GSP • Buyers demands

  44. i. Recommendations

  45. What ought to be Done? • Review, amending laws: SC in Enayat Masih Case • Formulation of comprehensive national strategies to eradicate this scourge • Fund? • Sensitization, capacity building of all implementing officials at all levels • Proper Prosecution of violators

  46. Thanks

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