You have to see this!
This is something we are not familiar to read or hear about. Perhaps there is nothing we can do for the moment, but at lease be content with your situation in life and in that contentment, do some type of work that will bring benefit to others. Make the best of our situation. No matter how difficult our lives are, someone has it harder. Give your prayers for these people please.
Tsem Rinpoche
Why India’s brick kiln workers ‘live like slaves’
By Humphrey Hawksley
BBC News, Andhra Pradesh
Tens of thousands of families travel, mostly from the state of Orissa, to work in the brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh
Just outside of the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, by country roads in a flat green landscape, smoke rises off huge furnaces.
The heat hardens mud clay into the bricks that are making modern India.
Close by the air is acrid with coal soot, catching in the throat.
Like a scene from a long-gone age, men and women walk in single file up and down steps as if climbing a pyramid. They strain under a load, balanced in yoke-like hods, to deliver freshly moulded bricks to the furnace.
Down below, knee deep in water, their clothes ragged, workers hack at clay in a wet pit.
“The work is hard standing in the water, lifting the bricks,” says Gurdha Maji, 35, as he packs mud into a brick mould and levels it off.
“We make 1,500 bricks a day. Only after six months will we get released.”
‘Against the law’
Nearby, there is a mound of coal. Woman and children squat at the edge. Most are barefoot. With ungloved fingers a woman holds down a piece of coal and smashes it with a hammer. Two children, barely four years old, their faces smeared black, break coal by hitting pieces against each other.
“All of this is against the law,” says Aeshalla Krishna, a labour activist with the human rights group Prayas.
“This is against the minimum wage act of 1948, the bonded labour act of 1976, the interstate migrant workers act of 1979. Child labour. Sexual harassment. Physical abuse. It’s all happening. Every day.”
The bricks are used to build offices, factories and call centres, the cityscapes of a booming economic miracle, and more and more, these buildings are used by multi-national companies with a global reach.
Yet, Mr Krishna says he doesn’t know of any bricks made under working conditions that would be acceptable under international standards.
The six-month season is now beginning when tens of thousands of families travel, mostly from the state of Orissa to work in the brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh.
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/IndiaBrickIndustry.mp4
Humphrey Hawksley reports from the Indian city of Hyderabad
Among many reports of abuses, labour contractors last week were accused of cutting off the hands of two workers who tried to leave their jobs.
The brick kilns we visited comprised the most poverty-wracked communities of India.
Children were everywhere. There was no safety equipment. Stories of illness, withheld wages and other issues were common place.
“They work 12 to 18 hours a day, pregnant women, children, adolescent girls,” says Mr Krishna. “Their diet is poor. There is no good water. They live like slaves.”
The situation has been like this for decades, if not centuries. Until recently, it was widely accepted as something that would improve slowly over time. Campaigners say there’s been little sense of urgency.
But in 2011, the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) combined forces to introduce new guidelines for multinational companies operating in countries like India.
These companies now have a direct responsibility to check on human rights abuses anywhere in their supply chains.
‘Game changer’
“It’s a real game changer,” says Tyler Gillard, the OECD’s legal adviser.
“Any alleged abuses of human rights associated with the production of materials such as bricks and directly linked to a company’s operations, products or services is a serious issue.”
Britain has set up a National Contact Point for alleged abuses and this year made changes to its Companies Act to require companies to include human rights issues in their annual reports, from 1 October.
“We would expect any member to take very seriously the evidence of human rights abuses that are related to their business whether directly or indirectly,” says Peter McAllister, director of Ethical Trading Initiative whose members include multinationals.
Many women and children work at the kilns for ’12-18 hours a day’, say activists
And an international alliance of trade unions, Union Solidarity International, is launching a campaign – Blood Bricks – with the aim of forcing companies to carry out checks.
‘Epidemic’
“The scale of forced and child labour in the brick kilns of India is of epidemic proportions,” says UK Andrew Brady. “Simply put cheap bricks means cheap office buildings on the back of blood bricks and slave labour.”
The Indian government insists it is on top the issue, providing housing, clean water and schools in the kilns around Hyderabad.
“The labour market is very conducive for multinationals,” says Dr A Ashok, labour commissioner for Andhra Pradesh.
“We have taken action against brick kiln owners who have tried to exploit workers. There is no bonded labour and the minimum wage is paid. If there are some pockets here and there, they need to be rectified.”
In squalid mud hut that’s used for accommodation, we find Madhiri Mallik. She’s five years old. The only clothing she wears is a pair of shorts.
Mr Krishna discovers that she came from the state of Orissa with her parents, Gurubhol and Amar, and her two year old brother, Vishnu.
Mr Krishna crouches down to check her eyes. “She is suffering from an eye problem because of the smoke. See how the eye is white. The haemoglobin is very low. She has a headache from the smoking bricks and her stomach is bad because of the water.”
Regardless of what governments or human rights activists say, under the new trade guidelines it is up to each company to establish facts on the ground.
If they find cases in their supply chains like little Madhiri, they must take steps to try to help her.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-25556965
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This is very sad. In the new modern business environment I am shock that this is happening in India. This brick kiln management has clearly abuse the labour and has no qualm in admitting that they are treating the labour as slave.
How can the worker work for 12 to 18 hours in this harsh place. Furthermore, they were not provided any safety gear and have to endure the heat in the kiln. The more scary thing is that they allow children in this dangerous work place.
Thankfully, the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has taken steps in providing new guidelines. I hope the multinational companies there will adhere to the regulations and guidelines to stop this abuse.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article and a reminder that how fortunate are we living in much better condition.
Sad….feeling very sad and sorry for those working in the brick kilns of Andhra Pradesh,India. Their working condition was really bad, barefooted men ,women,and very young children working 12 to 18 hours a day just to earn a living. They were exploited by brick kiln owners workers too.The situation like this has been going on for years The governments and human rights activists were trying their best to improve the standard of working condition.
Nothing we can do but should feel very lucky and appreciate for what we have now ,do more to benefit other,no matter how hard and difficult yet someone might be worse than us.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article and the videos too.
a very sad to thing know _/\_. thank you rinpoche
This kind on reality is always so sad to watch yet it is a reality ofsuffering happening right here on our very own planet. Samsara it is. Good to know that they are making the multimillion dollar international companies are being made to include human rights check in to their contract. And I hope these company will actually have integrity to actually follow through. When I see this, it humbles me and reminds me of how fortunate I am at where I am. I should never complain how hard my life or work is. It is no where near what these folks are doing and living. Thank you Rinpoche for such reminders.
感谢仁波切這篇文章的分享，譲我们了解生活在富足的區域里，背后卻有一群不幸且弱勢的人群 ，为了生活糊口，被迫每天工作超過十五小时，卻只得丁点的不公平報酎及恶劣的生活條件。這就是印度種性制度的不公平，基本上就是富商的奴隶。虽然现在幫不了什么忙，最㡳限度，不恥辱他们.
We are fortunate enough because we were born in a country where we can live our lives freely with sufficient basic necessity such as food, clothing, clean water, political stability and free from natural disasters. Further, all our working places in our country are protected by government laws and regulations. As such, we could have collected good karma from our previous lives in order to be born in a more blessed country compared to the less fortunate ones.
I personally believe that we should count our blessings and do not make further complaints because of our never-ending desires to expect for more luxuries, comfort and enjoyment. Let’s make a good use of our resources, time, money, energy and effort to help more people by practicing and spreading the Dharma and Buddha’s teachings. The ocean is made of many tiny drops of water and so do we as everyone of us can contribute to create the good cause and make our earth a better place to live.
When I read of how hard people have to work to eke a living under difficult conditions and environment, it reminds me how fortunate I am. And we have so many people who are choosy of their work, job and career that led to a vacuum in the blue collared sector.
I understand what Rinpoche is trying to bring out. These people are living in a hell, they are working so hard so that they could survive. And here we are, living in a place where we have plenty of food to eat and water to drink, really, there’s nothing else we can complain. I mean these people are not complaining even though they have been treated like slaves to build buildings. This is so wrong, the companies should be more considerate and involved with the building of the whole place, they are causing hundreds and even thousands of people to suffer indirectly. These poor human beings deserve a better life, they deserve to be treated like a human, it’s really sad to know how they are treated DAILY, I can’t imagine myself living like this honestly. We are born in this country where food, water are sufficient, and on top of that we have our own cozy houses to live in, we should be more grateful of what we have and stop complaining. Look at these people, how can we still complain while they are living like this? I hope that this kind of illegal activities will be banned and stopped soon, the government should be more diligent and strict, they have to help their own people.
Yes, there is no difference between ourselves and others! None of us wishes even the slightest of sufferings. All of us want to be happy and to avoid sufferings. Though these poor beings as mentioned in this blog, may be filled with the fruits of their negative karmic debts, with relentless sufferings now pouring down upon them like rain, we earnestly pray that the compassionate Buddhas of the ten directions will free them of all hardships, misfortunes and sufferings. We also pray that the buddhas will bestow upon them ultimate goodness of virtues and happiness, so as to enhance the joy and bliss for all these suffering beings. As His Holiness, the Dalai Lama has said, “For all of us in this planet, none can live forever. So while we are here, we should try to have a good heart and to make something positive and useful of our lives. Whether we live just a few years or a whole century, it would be truly regretable and sad if we were to spend that time aggravating the problems that afflict other people, animals and the environment!” The most important thing therefore, is to be a good human being. Om mani padme hung.
These abuses will continue as long as people continue coming to these kilns to work, due to no choice, due to poverty and due to lack of education, which leads to ignorance.
I see the solution to rescue the children and provide them with education and micro credits to start them off when they finish schooling to enable them to step out of this cycle.
I feel very fortunate to be where I am today. I believe this will generate thoughts in our minds to start doing something (big or small) to help other human beings to step out of this.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this.
This is really sad as these families are very poor and have to do this to get money, but they barely get money and they do more work than any of us. They are basically slaves, they cannot leave, they live under slave-like conditions and treated like slaves. And the accusations that they cut off the workers hands is just horrible that further supports that they are just todays slaves. And all laws saying this shouldn’t happen just goes out the window and into the mud.
Also we must appreciate how we all have a good life, if you think you have a small house or apartment then look at this! These people have no proper homes and live like slaves unlike YOU so appreciate your lives so your do not have to go to these measures to get a little bit of money. I am sure that these people do not have a proper roof over their heads or warm proper food on the table. So understand the situation these people are in and do not just shrug it off because if it was you then i bet you would want what “small’ things you have now.
And one last thing, if you do not like this then speak out. It is always good to have an extra voice fighting for these people. Just look at this doing hard hard labour in a muddy pit for bricks for little money and poor living conditions… These people that have hard lives, women, men or children it doesn’t matter it is just so sad. They are basically slaves.
In India and other countries like China, Pakistan and Philippines, “the desperately poor, especially indebted villagers, are often forced to work for no wages and denied to work elsewhere. They are slaves in all but name.
I search the internet on the issue of brick kiln labor issue in India, and surprisingly forced labor is not only happen in India, and it’s very serious. And many have heard brick klin owner in China kidnapped children to work in their factory.
Laws and enforcement of the laws to secure the welfare of the workers, prosecuting factory owners who
break the laws are lacking, especially in developing countries.
The demand for the bricks is so high for developing countries to build office and homes, and the labor including forced labor are contributing to the booming of economy, yet they are not treated they way they should be.
According to ILO report, there are currently an estimated 21 million forced labour victims worldwide. A recent ILO report estimates that US$ 150 billion in illegal profits are made in the private economy each year through modern forms of slavery.
“Make the best of our situation. No matter how difficult our lives are, someone has it harder..” Here I remember to offer my prayers and be gratitude to others including strangers from far far away, who contributed and might have contributed to our life always.
Source: ILO Report on illegal profits: http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/publications/WCMS_243391/lang–en/index.htm
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing. We are so lucky to live in Malaysia, a beautiful country with so many nature resources and free of nature disasters. We should be grateful with what we have and not take it for granted. I am a greedy person and always place myself and targets above others. I am trying to learn how to help and benefit others sincerely. I wish I can walk the talk and continue doing it even in the difficult situation as no matter how difficult our lives are, someone has it harder.
India and China, world’s 2 largest countries by population, without a doubt, many rural areas, undeveloped areas will have the people working far away from their homes in unfit environmental conditions for work. What can they do if not for their survival?
I am happy to note that OECD is requesting MNCs and many other large companies to do a supply chain check and keep human rights and minimum wage in check. I just pray the companies really do follow.
Brick is not the only industry that have human rights abuse…there are many other industries. As long as there is demand for materials… such things are prone to happen…
So true Edwin, there are many other industrial that just focus on their own benefits, ignoring, risks and abusing their workers lives for the sake for productions. Many of the products that we are using everyday are using some kind of poisonous material and would cause cancer to the workers. These workers worked in a condition of not knowing the truth. What can we do? Whenever we buy a product do consider the courses we created by creating the market demand for this products. Brick is just one of the example. Many are not force to do it but they do not have a choice but to choose to work in this way instead of going hungry.
India’s poorest families flock here to the brick kilns , near Hyderabad, to work. They need the work. They need the money, however poorly they are treated and paid. They are treated like slaves; they live like slaves.
A typical example is 5 year-old Madhiri, who came here with her parents and a younger brother. She wears nothing but a pair of shorts. She is already suffering form the effects of continuous exposure to the smoke from the brick kilns. Her eye is all white. She has very low haemogoblin .She suffers from a headache because of the smoke from the bricks.Because of unfit drinking water, she suffers from a stomachache.
The companies who buy these bricks should always watch out for all these -the working and living conditions of people who work to turn out they bricks that they buy.
Hopefully, the labour activists , succeed in their campaign to force companies to conduct close checks on families like Madhiri’s.