(a) whether the Government is aware of poor farm workers being forced to work as slaves
in brick kilns during lean agricultural months in various parts of the country;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(c) the welfare measures taken/likely to be taken by the Government for the starving
agriculture workers during such lean period?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH)
(a) to (c) The Constitution of India under Article 23(1) prohibits begar and other similar
forms of forced labour. As per the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, no person
can compel any person to render any bonded labour or other form of forced labour.
The Government has enacted the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 to provide social
security to the unorganized workers which include agriculture workers.
The Government has enacted Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 which
aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing at least
hundred days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household, whose adult members
volunteer to do unskilled manual work. This aims at preventing distress migration. According
to the Act, employment shall be provided within a radius of five kilometres of the village
where the applicant resides at the time of applying. In case the employment is provided
outside such radius, it must be provided within the Block and the labourers shall be paid
10% extra wages.