518 people are now free

This marks the second-largest operation IJM has supported in the region.

It began when a labourer who had escaped sought help from survivor leader Thenmoyi, reporting that his loved ones were among many people trapped and exploited at a brick kiln in a rural district of South Asia. Families were trapped through violence, coercion and falsified debt.

Thenmoyi referred the case to local authorities, and a judge from the State Legal Services Authority recognised the urgency of the case and ordered immediate action. Police and government officials responded quickly, locating three kilns across neighbouring properties where large numbers of people were being held.

Families were found living in cramped, unsafe shelters, without adequate water or sanitation. Many people were physically weak and malnourished. Children had been forced to work alongside their parents, moulding and carrying heavy bricks each day.

Working alongside labour rights groups and IJM, officials ensured people received food, water and medical care. The government is coordinating the survivors’ return home, where IJM will work with partners and local authorities to support long-term care and recovery.

Police have arrested three kiln owners who allegedly controlled and exploited the families. They remain in custody while investigations continue and charges are filed.

One IJM staff member said, “What stood out most in the operation was the extraordinary government response across multiple states. Officials moved with remarkable speed and urgency, treating the complaint with utmost seriousness and mobilising multiple departments almost immediately.”  

Trafficking for forced labour remains one of the most pervasive forms of exploitation worldwide, trapping vulnerable families in cycles of abuse and false debt. But moments like this remind us that protection is possible when communities, governments and organisations work together to strengthen systems that protect children, women and men from violence.

Learn more about how you can be part of helping end forced labour slavery.