IJM Helps Rescue Nine Slaves Trapped in Brick Kiln for 12 Years
Safety
CHENNAI, INDIA - Twelve years. That’s how long nine people, including three children, were held in bondage as they labored 13-14 hours a day in a brick kiln. Until yesterday. IJM and local authorities rescued the forced labor slaves after 12 years of terrible treatment.
The slaves had been here since 2003. If they felt sick and did not go to work, they were physically and verbally abused. Despite putting in hours of hard labor, they were paid a pittance.
After the rescue, local authorities gave the survivors a government fund. They also promised to allot land to a family that did not have a home. One of the officials in charge even said he would personally send school uniforms to make sure the children could start school right away.
Disturbed by the situation, the local authorities pledged to visit all 100 brick kilns in the district to monitor the labor situations.