Most of the labourers at the brickfields in Chatmohar of Pabna district are now working without any wages or with very low wages since they borrowed advanced money at a high interest rate from the owners of those brick fields earlier.
It is learnt, five months of period from May to September, there is no work at the brick fields due to rain and wet-earth. Most of the brick field workers also remain unemployed during this period.
Failing to manage any work anywhere, these workers either borrow money at an exorbitant rate of interest from the owners of the brick fields or agree to sell labour in advance at the brick fields against a very low wages.
Most of the brick field workers are being deprived and cheated from the owners as they are forced to sell the labour in advance to survive with their family members.
Abu Hanif, of village Ramnagar Brick field under Beelchalan union works as labourer leader at KSB Brickfield owned by Sarder Abu Hanif of Chatmohar Rail Bazar area. 22 labourers work under him.
He informed, all 22 labourers have borrowed advanced money as against the contract of selling labour at the brickfields during the season. He further said the labourers who make bricks were lent Tk 35,000 t0 40,000 each while those working as helpers were lent Tk 15,000 to 20,000 each.
Those who do not borrow any money are given Tk 700 daily wages for making and drying of every 1,000 bricks while those who borrowed the money in advance receive Tk 450 daily as against the same job. As a result, the loan recipients receive Tk 250 less than those who did not receive any loan from the owners.
Labourer leader Abdus Salam of Baosa area works at a brick field at Dolong village. He informed all 16 labourers working under him have borrowed Tk 35,000 to 15,000 each in advance from the owner of the brick field. Now they were repaying their loan by selling their labour.
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Mobarak Hossain (20) son of Wares Ali of village Dolong works at a brick field at Ber Howlia area of Chatmohar. He informed, he borrowed Tk 12,500 five months ago. Now he is paid Tk 250 wages daily for his work while by performing the same work, other labourers receive Tk 350 daily as they did not receive any loan from the owners of the brick fields.
Amir Hossain, President of Chatmohar upazila Brickfield Labourers’ Association informed, they are always trapped by the owners of the brick fields. He further informed, they procure money from the owners of the brick fields by signing in blank cheques and lend those money to other labourers.
As a result, they face trouble if any labourer works at the brick field after receiving the loan but others who receive loan are forced to work at a low wage.