Pakistan: Women and agricultural workers bear the brunt of Sindh's bonded labour crisis

Hari Welfare Association President Akram Ali Khaskheli addressed a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday. He said women in rural areas were suffering in every aspect of life and were facing social, economic and political injustice due to non-implementation of laws in the interest of farmers and rural labourers.

Khaskheli said the Sindh Bonded Labour System Abolition Act 2015 has not been implemented effectively, resulting in farmers approaching local courts every year to free their family members from the clutches of landlords.

He said that 12,116 bonded labourers were freed from the agriculture sector between 2014-2023, of which 33 per cent were women. These women faced many hardships including economic exploitation, physical abuse and denial of rights to education, voting and choosing their husbands, reports The News International.

According to the press statement, despite the establishment of district vigilance committees under the Sindh Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, these committees have not been effective in rescuing bonded labourers or assisting those released by local courts, The News International reported.

Samina Khaskheli, joint secretary of the Azad Hariani Mazdoor Union, complained that agricultural and women workers are still earning less than 10,000 Pakistani rupees (PKR) per month despite working 12 hours a day. She said that despite the Sindh government setting the minimum wage at 37,000 Pakistani rupees per month, workers are getting 10,000 Pakistani rupees, The News International reported.

According to a similar report published by Dawn, women farmers generally have less access to financial resources such as loans and subsidies, which limits their ability to invest in modern agricultural techniques or technology. Women in rural Sindh often rely on traditional methods due to a lack of access to capital and modern agricultural equipment.