National Programme Manager of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Mohammad Saifullah Chaudhry has said that the Mines Act, Employment Act and Child Labour Law must be revised to provide better occupational environment to labour.
He was speaking at a seminar on "Bonded labour in mining sector in Pakistan," organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Monday.
He further stated that the implementation of the policies and laws were more necessary than their formulation.
The ILO would conduct study on child labour and recommendation would be forwarded to the Federal government, he said.
"Poverty is the root cause of child and bonded labour and lack of awareness about the labour laws increase the sufferings of bonded labour," he asserted.
"This is the dire need that the government, the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local bodies and the United Nations agencies, should work together for poverty alleviation," he added.
He said that educational facilities would be provided to children and schools would be opened near the mines to educate them about their rights and safety.
Saifullah Chaudhry said that Shangla, Chakwal had high ratio of child and bonded labour as these areas were below poverty line.
"The ILO has contacted their local governments and the respective district co-ordination officers (DCOs) for the alleviation of child and bonded labour," he added.
He said the Ministry of Labour and Manpower, Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education and Ministry of Health should work for labour weal.
Ramazan Khokhar, a trade union worker Khewra salt mine, informed the seminar that one employee of mining sector got Rs 1,000 average salary, which was very low.
He said that a middleman, serving nine owners' interest, provided Rs 15,000 to Rs 20, 000 loan to the labourers to keep them in the clutches of the owners.
Unfortunately, if any labourer was injured while working in the mines, his child had to perform his father's duty and the cycle of bonded labour continued, he added.
"There is a law if a labourer dies while working in the mines, the government is bound to pay Rs 100, 000 and the mine owner is bound to pay Rs 200, 000 to his family, but, unfortunately, the mine owner usually do not pay," he disclosed.
He said that occupational diseases were common among 70 percent workers of the mines.
In Punjab, high ratio of child labour was detected and child labour abuse was severe in the mines, he said, adding that salt, coal and mineral mine owners were specifically involved in child labour exploitation, he added.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would provide free timing for the programmes on bonded and child labour to highlight the living conditions of the labourers for social awareness, the seminar was informed.
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