The document summarizes issues faced by workers in the bangle manufacturing industry in Hyderabad, Pakistan. It states that (1) Hyderabad is the second largest producer of bangles in the world, yet the workers live in miserable conditions, (2) most workers are illiterate women who work from home and earn very low wages that are insufficient to cover basic needs, and (3) workers lack basic rights and protections, have no benefits or job security, and work in unsafe environments without proper facilities or training on labor laws.

1. [Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]
HYDERABAD IN PAKISTAN IS THE SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER OF BANGLE IN THE WORLD, BUT
THE HANDS BEHIND THEM ARE LIVING A MISERABLE LIFE.
Bangles known as Churi in Urdu
language. Among others bangle
manufacturing is one of the
main source of income for nearly
1, million people 70 percent of
them are home-based women
workers while 30 percent of the
work force are working at
factory level and dominated by
man.
Bangles are part and parcel of
our traditions and customs and
that is why the rhythm of the
bangles in the hands women
had been mentioned in many
folk songs. In Pakistan, bangles
have much importance and
every girl and women of any age
loves to wear them on every
occasion. Like wedding or
festivals, and especially Rabi-ul-
Awal and Eid.
The history of bangle in Sindh
has a long history. The
emigrants from India belonging
to bangle industry, after
migration in 1947 settled in
Hyderabad and started
manufacturing bangles at small
scale. Later the communities,
residing in the vicinity, also
became involved in the industry
for earning their livelihood and
thus a large number of people
adopted bangle-making as their
profession.
The workers in bangle factory
are illiterate, only some workers
complete primary and
secondary education. Few of
them are enrolled or had pass
higher education
ISSUES OF LABOR IN BANGLE MANUFACTURING
FACTORIES

2. The workers receive low salaries
and are unable to meet their
daily household expense. Their
income range 450-500 rupees
per day. As per the workers they
are unable to meet there
household expenditures.
Workers think that they are not
paid well for what they are
doing. . It is observed that they
do overtime work for two
reasons on one hand for more
income generation to meet their
expenditure on other hand due
to large orders especially on the
occasions like Eid or Rabi-ul-
awal.
The labor Union is ineffective
and are not working for the
largest interest of labor in
bangle factory. The labor union
is not providing labor benefits.
Any government or labor
department nor any concerned
ministry ever contact them.
80% labor doesn’t knew about
labor laws. Workers did not get
any regular training skills from
any institution.
They workers are unregistered,
have not been provided with
employee Identity cards, social
securities and labor benefits, nor
are they Permanent employee of
the factory. 100 percent labor
are un-registered employees. It
is observed that the recruitment
is contractual and not
permanent at any time. It is
observed that there are no
employee benefits in the factory
other than regular wages. There
is no facility of transportation,
provision of health services also
not provided by the owner of the
factory. There is no Medicare
facility and Precaution
measures, are not employed
within the factory. Their wages
are deducted when they have to
do off during illness. 75 percent
workers get injured because of
doing this work. 60 percent
workers are not satisfied with
the cleanliness system of their
factory. There is no serious
health problems however the
workers faced some minor
injuries due to the prevalence
and wreckage of glass in the
factory. They are bound to work
in hot temperature, clean
drinking water and clean
bathroom are not available
within the factory.
Bangle factory workers are
unaware of their rights and are
un-aware about the role and
importance of labor Union. 95
percent doesn’t asked the
nominated person during the
elections to solve the issues
regarding the bangle industry.
Workers are on the view that the
major reforms that must be
taken to improve and their
issues includes, workers must
raise their voice for their rights,
they suggest that making them
permanent employee, through
registration, providing them
employee ID cards, providing
them social securities and labor
and old age benefits, providing
Medicare within or outside the
factory and adopting health
precaution measures in factory
and providing transportation
facilities and by increasing their
wages. There is a need of
educating workers about labor
laws. Raising awareness regard
their rights. Sensitizing them
about the role of labor Union.

3. Bs Part 3 Rural Development Studies, Sindh Development Studies Center, University of Sindh
Main Campus Jamshoro / Oct, 9, - Oct, 14, 2014
Author:
Irfan Hussain
Saba Baloach
Noordin Keerio
Fahad Bhughio
Supervisor:
Ms. Nosheen Khaskheli