Faisalabad: February 29, 2016. (PCP) The Peace and Human Development (PHD-PAK) in collaboration with Bhatta Mazdoor Union (BMU) organized a press conference entitled “Elimination of Bonded and Child Labour at Brick Kilns” held on February 26, 2016 at Faisalabad Press Club. Addressing a press conference, the director of the Peace and Human Development (PHD-PAK), Suneel Malik said, “The Punjab Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Ordinance 2016 issued by the Governor of the Punjab province, announces penalty for owners violating the provisions of the legislation. Though the promulgation of the ordinance is a healthy step to stop child labour at brick kilns, but the government must take socio-economic initiatives for elimination of mortgaging the families of workers through advance payment for child labour at brick kilns, and ensuring that brick-kilns workers are not compelled to make their children work, and seek advances from employers.” “The owners of the brick kilns violate labor laws by not getting their workers registered with the Employees Old-age Benefits Institution (EOBI), and Employees Social Security Institutions (ESSI), that is why the workers are deprived of their rights and privileges which include; receiving pension and financial support from the Workers Welfare Fund, i.e. free medical treatment, death grants, marriage grants, education grants etc. Therefore, the government must ensure their registration with government departments to enable them enjoy employment benefits and labor rights,” a child rights activist added. The general secretary of the Bhatta Mazdoor Union (BMU), Asghar Shaheen said, “Brick kiln workers work hard in the fields during hot and cold weather to make mud bricks, but it is pity that brick kiln workers are paid not even a single penny due to business closure during rainy and winter season. They are forced to borrow money as loan from their employers in order to make both ends meet, which virtually transform them into slaves.” “The demand of brick kiln owners to make parents of children of brick kiln workers responsible for child labour is not justified as only owners are the sole authority for any employment at their brick kilns and should be held responsible if any child labour is found at brick kilns,” a labour rights activist added. The district general secretary of the Awami Workers Party (AWP), Arif Ayaz said, “The Bonded and child labour persists despite declaring it punishable offence in article 11 of the constitution of Pakistan. The brick kiln workers are bonded through the system of advance payments (peshgi), resulting in exploitation and harassment of workers and their families, which restrict them not to leave the brick kilns of their free will due to debt bondage.” “It is sad that the Brick Kilns Owners Association has announced to shut down their businesses due to arrest of hundreds of brick kiln owners by the government on the violation of newly enforced ordinance prohibiting child labour. Therefore, the government must address the concerns of the brick kiln owners by including their representatives in the inspection team responsible for raids to check child at brick kilns, and convince them to protect rights of brick kiln workers,” a labour rights activist added. At this juncture, the participants demanded that the government must take effective measures to ensure implementation of notification regarding wages PKR 962 against 1000 bricks for brick kiln workers, and implementation of orders issued by the supreme court regarding bonded labour, Employees Old-age Benefits Institution (EOBI) & Employees Social Security Institutions (ESSI) benefits, and enforcement of existing labour laws particularly; Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992, and The Employment of Children Act 1991, and The Punjab Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Ordinance 2016, to eliminate child and bonded labour.