250 bonded labourers rescued in Mansa; inquiry marked

Tribune News Service

Mansa, June 5

Around 250 bonded labourers were rescued from brick kilns by an NGO, Volunteers for Social Justice, and a local leader of the labour union in three subdivisions of Mansa district on Thursday night.

The labourers today lodged a complaint with the Mansa Sub Divisional Magistrate that they were being exploited and forced to do labour.

These labourers said they had come from Uttar Pradesh and were working in brick kiln factories since November 2014 but were “not being given their daily wages”. Even at the end of the season, the brick kiln owners had allegedly refused to pay their wages. The employers also allegedly prevented the labourers from leaving the factory premises. They were working in these factories in Sardulgarh, Mansa and Budhlada divisions of Mansa district.

Labourers were allegedly denied their wages and paid only paltry sums for sustenance. Moreover, they were allegedly made to work in dismal conditions with no access to drinking water, proper housing and toilets.

Mansa Deputy Commissioner Bhupinder Singh Rai has marked an inquiry into the matter to the Sub Divisional Magistrates and had asked them to submit their reports within a week. “The actual number of labourers rescued is being assessed while an investigation has been marked. The release orders of labourers are being prepared. These labourers were allegedly forced to work. Stringent action in accordance with law will be taken against the guilty.”