Feature

There is evidence that practices such as bonded labour are still prevalent in India. Photograph: iStock/Boonyachoat

lived and some of their children were being forced to work alongside them to Ending modern help repay the families’ . The case provided a sharp reminder that modern – where people are exploited and completely controlled by others, without being able to leave – remains a significant problem in India. According to the Global Slavery Although India has made huge efforts in Index, on any given day in 2016 there recent years to end modern slavery, the were nearly eight million people living in modern slavery in India. The Index, which estimates that around is produced by the Walk Free Foundation, a global anti-slavery campaigning eight million people in India were in some organisation, says this means there form of modern slavery in 2016. The British are an estimated 6.1 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people in India. Safety Council asked three global experts Modern slavery is an umbrella term that essentially refers to situations how India can eradicate all forms of slavery. where people are exploited and completely controlled by others, Gajal Gupta The newspapers (tinyurl.com/ without being able to leave. It includes British Safety Council y6bkcuax), reported that many of , bondage (or bonded labour), , those rescued had been forced to In July 2019, newspapers forced and early marriage and the sale work as labourers for several years to across India featured a shocking and exploitation of children. repay money they had borrowed from photograph of ‘Kasi’, an elderly man Common examples include people begging at the feet of officials who the owner of the woodcutting units. being forced to work against their had come to rescue him and over 40 According to the news reports, the will under the threat of some form other adults and children from being adult labourers were forced to work of punishment, in settings such as allegedly trapped in bonded labour long hours, were rarely allowed to agriculture and domestic service; people at woodcutting units in . leave the woodcutting units where they being held in (bonded

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labour), where they borrow money and The Index also warns that women, ? How serious is the problem are then required to work to pay off the especially those from economically of modern slavery in India? debt; and women being forced to marry and marginalised How successful has India against their will and to provide labour communities, still face an increased been in eradicating all forms under the guise of ‘marriage’. risk of exploitation and abuse. of slavery compared to The Global Slavery Index estimates For example, it says that illegal other countries that in 2016, 40.3 million men, women Sumangali schemes – where poor Lenin: In its latest report, the Global and children globally were victims of families sent their young daughters Slavery Index 2018 estimates that on modern slavery – 24.9 million of whom to work in factories for several any given day in 2016 there were nearly were in forced or bonded labour. years in return for the promise of a eight million people living in ‘modern The Index found that 10 countries bulk payment that can be used as a slavery’ in India. However, this claim – India, , , North Korea, ‘marriage dowry’ to attract a husband has been strongly contested by the , Iran, , Democratic – “often result in trapping women and Indian government on the grounds that Republic of the Congo, Russia, and girls in situations of debt bondage”. the report’s parameters were poorly the – account for almost Safety Management asked three defined and too wide-ranging. 60 per cent of all the people trapped in experts on modern slavery for their In its report, the Global Slavery modern slavery around the world. views on how India can eradicate Index says that the most current In its 2018 analysis of the extent all forms of modern slavery. available data from India’s National of modern slavery in India, the Global We interviewed: Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicate Slavery Index says that, while India has • Elise Gordon, a research analyst that there were 8,132 reported cases of criminalised most forms of modern at the Walk Free Foundation, a human trafficking across India in 2016. slavery, research suggests that philanthropic organisation that In the same year, 15,379 people practices such as bonded labour are campaigns to end modern slavery were trafficked, of whom 9,034 victims still prevalent. It adds that research around the globe, and publishes the were under the age of 18. In addition, suggests that a lack of Global Slavery Index that seeks to 23,117 people were rescued from opportunities in the organised sector measure the extent of modern slavery trafficking situations, of whom 14,183 is continuing to drive people to seek • Terry FitzPatrick, communications people were under the age of 18. employment in the unorganised sector, and advocacy director at Free Most of the rescued victims “where withholding of , debt the Slaves, a non-governmental reported being trafficked for the bondage, and physical and sexual organisation that works to end all purpose of forced labour (10,509 abuse at the workplace are common”. forms of slavery globally victims), followed by sexual The Index adds that discrimination • Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, founder exploitation for prostitution (4,980 against scheduled castes, and and CEO of the People’s Vigilance victims) and other forms of sexual scheduled tribes is still a characteristic Committee on Human Rights, a exploitation (2,590 cases). of Indian society, and this increases non-governmental organisation — the vulnerability of these marginalised in India that fights for the rights ? What kind of measures groups to being exploited by of marginalised people in can the Indian government unscrupulous employers. North Indian states. take to eradicate cases of modern slavery Elise: The Indian government’s response to preventing and dealing with modern slavery was ranked seventh out of the 36 countries in the Asia and the Pacific region, according to the Global Slavery Index 2018. The Index also ranked the Indian government’s response to preventing and responding to modern slavery at 67 out of the 181 countries around the world that were assessed for the Index. The Indian government has drafted legislation intended to address human trafficking and provide mechanisms for the identification, protection and rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking. The legislation intends to provide a comprehensive law on all forms of trafficking and to establish stricter penalties for aggravated forms Modern slavery includes people being forced to work to pay debts. Photograph: iStock/AlxeyPnferov of trafficking.

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In its current form, the legislation Lenin: India needs to introduce a Lenin: It is a known fact that certain has been heavily criticised for its Modern Slavery Act as the UK has (see sectors and occupations are more potentially counter-productive and tinyurl.com/y4kh3fyt). dangerous than others. Protecting even harmful consequences – for The Indian government needs to workers in hazardous conditions – example, punishment for activities not establish a Modern Slavery Innovation in what is often known as the ‘3D’, necessarily associated with human Fund to experiment with new ways dirty, difficult and dangerous – is trafficking, stemming largely from its to stop this crime. The government a primary focus of the International vague provisions and setting the bar of India also needs to work with Labour Organisation (ILO). too high for immunity for victims from businesses to end trafficking which will Therefore, priority is given to criminal prosecution. create a safer and more prosperous helping workers in the most hazardous Despite these criticisms, there is world for us all. sectors and occupations – such as a need for the Indian government to As a nation, India also needs to agriculture, construction, mining, brick amend and pass human trafficking respond to modern slavery in its supply kilns or where working relationships or legislation to ensure that it adequately chains. India does not have one central conditions create particular risks. The protects vulnerable groups. legislative framework governing public priority is also on emerging risks, the Terry: All governments need to procurement. Although government informal and new forms of recognise that modern slavery must be ministries and departments must the economy. confronted on three fronts. comply with the requirements of various Work-related accidents and diseases Firstly, the rule of law must be guidelines, manuals and the procedures take a particularly heavy toll in India, strengthened throughout the world. available for public procurement, none of where large numbers of workers Police and judges in every country must these currently refer to modern slavery. are concentrated in the activities have the training and resources they — mentioned above. India often lacks need to enforce existing laws to turn ? How serious are the health adequate technical and economic human trafficking into a high-risk activity. and safety risks faced by capacities to maintain effective national Secondly, companies must people trapped in all forms occupational safety and health (OSH) investigate their supply chains of modern slavery in India systems, particularly regulatory and and eliminate modern slavery. The Terry: People who don’t care about enforcement mechanisms. economic pressure on an international human rights don’t care about the health The ILO is making use of its scale can have a tremendous impact. and safety of workers. People who extensive experience in promoting Thirdly, the community development become enslaved in every country are standards, codes of practice, technical programmes in all countries must typically desperate and marginalised, guides and training materials, as well integrate anti-slavery strategies and and slaveholders frequently treat them as developing means of practical activities into their everyday operations. with neglect and abuse. action for the protection of workers in By ending the things that make Beatings and humiliation are hazardous conditions. people vulnerable to modern slavery, common; nutrition is inadequate; In generally, women and governments in every country can have healthcare is non-existent; and escape young people, often children, work a dramatic impact. is often impossible. ceaselessly for hours, surrounded by highly harmful dust, and under the sun. There is no clean air, and the health protection system, hygiene and safety are completely lacking. Everyone seems to know about this problem, but there are very few who fight against this injustice. — ? Are large companies around the world directly or indirectly supporting slavery by purchasing or procuring products and services that are at risk of being produced by people who are subject to slavery, such as forced labour? What can international businesses do to eradicate slavery in their global supply chains Terry: Companies have a vital role to play in eradicating modern slavery by Over 23,000 victims of people trafficking were rescued in 2016. Photograph: iStock/Tinnakorn Jorruang investigating their supply chains. This

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includes investigating the supply chain Government responses to preventing and dealing with modern slavery in all the way down to the raw materials the Asia and the Pacific region – the top 10 rankings and avoiding suppliers who cannot Ranking Country Total score certify that they are slavery-free. There is a growing momentum 1 Australia 63.8 in global trade to ban the import of products tainted by forced labour. 2 New Zealand 57.6 Companies need to know that sooner or later they will not be able to 3 Philippines 55.8 operate in the global economy if they enslave workers. 4 Indonesia 50.8 Elise: There has been increased recognition globally of the role that the 5 Thailand 48.9 private sector can play in eradicating modern slavery. 6 Vietnam 48.1 By taking action to reduce the opportunity for forced labour in their 7 India 45.7 operations and supply chains, businesses 8 44.4 can help to tackle modern slavery. According to the Global Slavery 9 Nepal 38.7 Index for 2018, the number of countries that are investigating government 10 38.4 and business supply chains for labour violations, including forced labour, Source: Global Slavery Index 2018. remains low, with only 40 countries 100 is the highest possible score for the effectiveness of a government’s globally taking any action in this area. response to modern slavery and 0 is the lowest.

15 million people are trapped in forced Lenin: More than 90 per cent of marriage slavery. India’s total workforce is engaged The Global Slavery Index When you look at the nature of in the informal economy in ranked the Indian government’s modern slavery today, and how it agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, response to preventing and affects the products we buy every manufacturing, construction, and responding to modern slavery day, you realise that everyone has a service industries. According to the at 67 out of the 181 countries role to play in ending this abuse of Global Slavery Index, a lack of formal analysed fundamental human rights. employment opportunities leads Many people think slavery ended individuals to seek employment in the more than a century ago. It didn’t. informal sector where the withholding It was outlawed, not ended. Our of wages, debt bondage, and physical Lenin: My opinion is that some big generation’s is to finish the work and sexual abuse at the workplaces corporations are playing a major role that earlier abolitionists started. are common. directly in promoting or supporting Lenin: There are estimated to be Lower real wages, which are slavery. I appeal to all big corporations around 160 million people in India who typical of the informal sector, further exacerbate vulnerabilities. With no to introduce a code of conduct for the are members of the lowest caste of records or contracts maintained, there elimination of slavery from the world. the Hindu social and religious system, is no accountability to hold employers — sometimes known as Dalits. These responsible for any exploitation, ? How extensive is the people are often forced to perform the making informal workers highly problem of modern slavery most degrading and odious work tasks. vulnerable to exploitative practices. globally and in India These people are marginalised and Indian migrant workers, who move Terry: When people hear the words often condemned to accept a life of seasonally from rural villages to the ‘modern slavery’, they immediately slavery, and misery. cities in search of work opportunities, think of brothels – because that is — have limited access to support and what television shows and movies ? Which industries or sectors redress in cases of exploitation due to concentrate on. in India have the greatest risk the informal nature of their work. The truth is that, globally, 21 of people being subject to million people are enslaved at farms, modern slavery factories and construction sites, on Elise: Most forced labour exploitation The Global Slavery Index 2018, fishing boats, in mines and in private occurs in domestic work, construction, including the findings for India, homes as servants. About four million manufacturing, as well as agriculture, can be found at: people are trapped in sex slavery and forestry, and fishing. globalslaveryindex.org

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