red cat
23rd May 2011, 16:22
This is a recent report on brick-kiln workers of India. There was an allegation of brick-kiln workers being used as bonded labourers. As usual, the authorities sent out a fact finding team that concluded that the allegations are false. In reality, brick-kilns are known to have almost exclusively low caste workers who are often used as bonded labourers. As a result, this is one of the industries in India where the fiercest of class struggles tends to take place.
After a three-day standoff between the brick kiln owners and workers at the Kakosi police station in Patan district, the Sub-Divisional Officer has ruled out the existence of bonded labour in the area. SDO Dhawal Patel was investigating workers’ allegations that they were confined as bonded labourers at the kiln and not allowed to leave.
The Int Bhatta Mazdoor Union, which took up the cause of the workers, has contested the SDO’s claims and now plans to approach the High Court.
Patel said over the phone from Kakosi that he visited five brick kilns along with Labour Department officials and policemen on Tuesday evening. “We asked the labourers if they were being held against their will and told them that they could leave if they wanted to, but none expressed any desire to leave,” he said.
Brick kiln owners, workers and Labour Union and government officials had besieged the police station following a tussle between the owners and the workers over wage rates. Most of the workers are migrants from Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
(http://www.google.com/url?ct=abg&q=http%3A//services.google.com/feedback/abg%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A//www.indianexpress.com/%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dca-pub-9517772455344405%26adU%3Dwww.JetAirways.com/Cheap_Tickets%26adT%3DJetAirways%25E2%2584%25A2%2B Official%2BSite%26adU%3DHDFC.HomeLoans.enhanz.in%2 6adT%3DHDFC%2BHome%2BLoans%26adU%3DXenonXT.TataMot ors.com%26adT%3DThe%2BNew%2BTata%2BXenon%2BXT%26ad U%3DMakeMyTrip.com/Cheap-Airfares%26adT%3DPune-Delhi%2BLow%2BAirfares%26done%3D1%26gl%3DIN)
All parties agreed that brick kiln workers in the district and particularly in the areas near Kakosi are paid less compared to their counterparts in brick kilns across the state.
Superintendent of Police Anupam Gehlot said: “The main issue is that the owners in Kakosi pay workers between Rs 280 and 330 for every 1,000 bricks they make, but the owners from the neighbouring districts offer workers Rs 390 per 1,000 bricks.”
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/brick-kiln-workers-paid-less-than-others-b/753682/
This is a report from last year. Note that this is the tip of the iceberg, and unreported class struggle often takes more violent forms. These are legal forms of struggles most often used to ventilate the workers' wrath. The issues raised, however, are a part of the day-to-day struggles of the workers.
50,000 brick kiln workers on strike
More than 50,000 brick kiln workers across the state have gone on indefinite strike protesting against exploitation by brick kiln owners. They had a meeting at Adalaj on Friday to decide their future course of action in this regard. However, the Gujarat Brick Manufactures Association is not in a mood to have a dialogue with the union of the brick kiln workers.
The brick kiln workers have demanded minimum wages as well as better facilities such as water, electricity along with anganwadi and schools for their children. Dinesh Parmar, secretary of Int Bhattha Majdoor Union, claimed support of more than 50,000 kiln workers. "The brick kiln workers in Adalaj, Uvarsad, Dholka, Bavla, Sanand, etc. attended the meeting on Friday and resolved to fight for their rights," he said. Despite the Adalaj police's efforts to disrupt the meeting more than 1,000 workers were present, said Parmar.
He also alleged that the brick kiln owners do not pay minimum wages to brick kiln workers such as jalaiya, khadkan and nikasi. At present, the patla majdoor are getting around Rs300 per 1100 bricks and the workers have demanded double the wages. The jaliya workers, who work in the kiln, are given only around Rs3,000 per month instead of Rs140 per day according to minimum wages as they work around 12 to 14 hours a day, said Parmar.
The brick manufacturers should also give safety gears such as helmet, whole boot, hand gloves and goggles to jaliya majdoor.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_50000-brick-kiln-workers-on-strike_1335400
After a three-day standoff between the brick kiln owners and workers at the Kakosi police station in Patan district, the Sub-Divisional Officer has ruled out the existence of bonded labour in the area. SDO Dhawal Patel was investigating workers’ allegations that they were confined as bonded labourers at the kiln and not allowed to leave.
The Int Bhatta Mazdoor Union, which took up the cause of the workers, has contested the SDO’s claims and now plans to approach the High Court.
Patel said over the phone from Kakosi that he visited five brick kilns along with Labour Department officials and policemen on Tuesday evening. “We asked the labourers if they were being held against their will and told them that they could leave if they wanted to, but none expressed any desire to leave,” he said.
Brick kiln owners, workers and Labour Union and government officials had besieged the police station following a tussle between the owners and the workers over wage rates. Most of the workers are migrants from Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
(http://www.google.com/url?ct=abg&q=http%3A//services.google.com/feedback/abg%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A//www.indianexpress.com/%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dca-pub-9517772455344405%26adU%3Dwww.JetAirways.com/Cheap_Tickets%26adT%3DJetAirways%25E2%2584%25A2%2B Official%2BSite%26adU%3DHDFC.HomeLoans.enhanz.in%2 6adT%3DHDFC%2BHome%2BLoans%26adU%3DXenonXT.TataMot ors.com%26adT%3DThe%2BNew%2BTata%2BXenon%2BXT%26ad U%3DMakeMyTrip.com/Cheap-Airfares%26adT%3DPune-Delhi%2BLow%2BAirfares%26done%3D1%26gl%3DIN)
All parties agreed that brick kiln workers in the district and particularly in the areas near Kakosi are paid less compared to their counterparts in brick kilns across the state.
Superintendent of Police Anupam Gehlot said: “The main issue is that the owners in Kakosi pay workers between Rs 280 and 330 for every 1,000 bricks they make, but the owners from the neighbouring districts offer workers Rs 390 per 1,000 bricks.”
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/brick-kiln-workers-paid-less-than-others-b/753682/
This is a report from last year. Note that this is the tip of the iceberg, and unreported class struggle often takes more violent forms. These are legal forms of struggles most often used to ventilate the workers' wrath. The issues raised, however, are a part of the day-to-day struggles of the workers.
50,000 brick kiln workers on strike
More than 50,000 brick kiln workers across the state have gone on indefinite strike protesting against exploitation by brick kiln owners. They had a meeting at Adalaj on Friday to decide their future course of action in this regard. However, the Gujarat Brick Manufactures Association is not in a mood to have a dialogue with the union of the brick kiln workers.
The brick kiln workers have demanded minimum wages as well as better facilities such as water, electricity along with anganwadi and schools for their children. Dinesh Parmar, secretary of Int Bhattha Majdoor Union, claimed support of more than 50,000 kiln workers. "The brick kiln workers in Adalaj, Uvarsad, Dholka, Bavla, Sanand, etc. attended the meeting on Friday and resolved to fight for their rights," he said. Despite the Adalaj police's efforts to disrupt the meeting more than 1,000 workers were present, said Parmar.
He also alleged that the brick kiln owners do not pay minimum wages to brick kiln workers such as jalaiya, khadkan and nikasi. At present, the patla majdoor are getting around Rs300 per 1100 bricks and the workers have demanded double the wages. The jaliya workers, who work in the kiln, are given only around Rs3,000 per month instead of Rs140 per day according to minimum wages as they work around 12 to 14 hours a day, said Parmar.
The brick manufacturers should also give safety gears such as helmet, whole boot, hand gloves and goggles to jaliya majdoor.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_50000-brick-kiln-workers-on-strike_1335400