Even today, slavery persists in Bangladesh’s brick factories; millions work hard to make bricks by hand. As Bangladesh is rapidly urbanising, the high demand for affordable building materials is driving brick production. There are thought to be around 10,000 brickyards all over Bangladesh. Brick production comes at a high cost to health and the environment. There are no safety regulations and workers are exposed to harmful red dust that causes bronchitis and other lung diseases. Also, industrial injury and corporal punishment are commonplace. Any complaint provokes a beating. «They build themselves multi-storey houses and have a good life, while we live in houses that don't even have roofs», says one of the workers.
Authors
Brick Slaves
