Steps to curb bonded labour under way

Presiding over a training programme, Radhakrishna Pandian said, “Earlier, many landowners use to lend money to the workers and force their children to work for them but now, some industries entertain bonded labourers by assuring a particular amount at the end of their contract. Although the government has been enacting several laws to prevent such instances, few industries are continuing to employ bonded labourers for work.”

Gunaseelan, an official from the labour department, said that compared to other zones, the central zone witnesses instances of bonded labourers employed in agricultural works and brick kilns. Recently the labour department rescued a set of workers from a brick kiln in Pudukkottai district. An financial assistance of Rs 20,000 was handed over to them.