FOCUS AREAS

DEBT BONDAGE

BREAKING THE SHACKLES OF BONDED LABOURERS

AGHS Legal Aid Cell has been actively working towards ending bonded labor, forced labor, and other forms of modern slavery in Pakistan since the past three decades. The organization provides free legal aid and other support services to victims of bonded laborers across Punjab.

In relation to bonded labor, AGHS works to free those who are trapped in debt bondage by their employers. Bonded laborers are often forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions for little or no pay, and are not allowed to leave their place of work until their debt is paid off. AGHS helps these individuals by providing legal representation, advocacy, and support services to help them regain their freedom and rebuild their lives.

In the case of Irshad Hussein, AGHS successfully represented him in court, helping him to prove that the promissory note he was accused of signing for the amount Rs. 500,000 was a fraud. This victory helped to set a precedent for future cases involving brick bonded laborers who have been falsely accused of borrowing money from their employers.

AGHS also works with brick kiln workers, who are among the most vulnerable groups in Pakistan. These workers, including women and sometimes even children, often face dangerous working conditions, long hours, and low pay. Many are forced to work as bonded laborers in order to pay off their debts to their employers. AGHS provides legal aid, advocacy, and support services to help these workers regain their rights and improve their working conditions.

Overall, AGHS plays a vital role in combatting bonded labor, forced labor, and other forms of modern slavery in Pakistan. The organization’s work helps to raise awareness about these issues, provide legal and other support to victims, and advocate for policy changes that can help to eradicate these practices.

MUHAMMAD RIAZ vs KHALID GUJJAR

A Writ Petition was filed in the Lahore High Court by a bonded labourer who had managed to escape from a brick kiln. The individual sought the recovery of his family which included minors as young as nine months, from the brick kiln. The Lahore High Court dismissed the petition and AGHS challenged the decision of the Court before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.