Forced Labour

Question

Asked by Lord Patten

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 11 November (WA 129), why they raise the issue of bonded labour with Pakistan, but not with Bangladesh, India and Nepal.[HL4253]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): In Pakistan, the UK and the EU raise the issue of bonded labour as part of our regular dialogue on human rights. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Report on Human Rights 2009 highlighted our concerns in Pakistan, where the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that in 2009 there were over 3 million children born into or entering bonded labour to repay family debt in Pakistan. We have not recently raised the issue in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. However we continue to raise broader human rights concerns with these Governments at every appropriate opportunity.

Source: Lords Hansard 30 Nov 2010 Column WA434