India's brick industry contributes approximately £3 billion (~$5 billion) to its economy. However, this booming industry is the product of modern slave labor. In Andhra Pradesh, one of India's over 150,000 brick production units is investigated. Terrible working conditions are present with barefoot workers and long hours. There are entire families working for up to 16 hours a day for extremely low wages. They are paid in advance and have to meet a quota of over 1,500 bricks each day. Workers are forced to stay for at least 6 months, so they must live with the conditions. A BBC report discovered very young children smashing coal for the kilns and found out about workers getting their hands cut off when they tried to escape the conditions. In 2011, the United Nations and Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development created new guidelines for the companies with any association to these abuses. The new rules state that these companies have direct responsibility for human rights abuses anywhere in their production and supply lineage. Unfortunately, there is not much reinforcement.
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/jan/08/blood-bricks-india-urbanisation-human-rights-slave-labour
1. Should all companies in association have a direct tie to the abuses involved? What does it mean if it is their responsibility (in terms of action or not)?
2. Should these children even be allowed to work in the first place?
3. What is the issue with being paid in advance?
I think companies have the responsibility to set a precedent for other companies. This means that while they may not have full responsibilities over what happens, they should actively work toward preventing such injustices from occurring in their companies. They should also reach out to others and be willing to take part in a check of some kind that might regulate safe working conditions and fair wages. I do not think children should be allowed to work in the first place, and thus certain laws must be passed and enforced. Using children as workers violates their rights and the dignity and respect for human life. Paying them in advance binds them to the company, which prevents them from leaving should they come to realize the conditions are bad. They would be in debt, and the money serves as a motivator to stay with the company.
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