WRITTEN QUESTION E-1432/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Bonded labour and forced abductions in Pakistan.
Date: 2000-05-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Pakistan, child labour, common foreign and security policy, right to work

C 53 E/142

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

The decision whether or not the EIB should be subject to the full audit activity of the Court of auditors and
whether the EC Treaty should be changed is ultimately to be taken by the Member States.

EIB operations made under mandate are audited by the Court of auditors on the basis of the tripartite
agreement which was renewed last year.

(1) OJ C 122, 29.4.2000.

(2001/C 53 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1432/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Bonded labour and forced abductions in Pakistan

(5 May 2000)

Will the Commission provide an update on the location and well-being of the eight former bonded
labourers who were forcibly abducted on 4 May 1998 in the Sindh Province of Pakistan, Case Reference
No 35, and indicate whether any action has been taken by the Pakistani authorities to bring to justice
those responsible for the abduction?

Will the Commission provide an update on the number of people who have been successfully prosecuted
in Pakistan under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1992?

What is the status of the EU funded project on child bonded labour in Pakistan entitled (cid:145)Combating
abusive child labour through prevention, withdrawal and rehabilitation(cid:146), April 1998?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2000)

The Commission has no up-to-date details on the location and well-being of the eight former bonded
labourers to whom the Honourable Member refers. The Commission has instructed the delegation of the
Commission in Islamabad to follow up this matter with the authorities in Sindh Province. Similarly, the
Commission(cid:146)s representative in Pakistan will seek details from the appropriate authorities concerning the
number of presentations under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1992.

in Multan and Shangla Hill, concluded that:

The Community funded pilot project combating abusive child labour through prevention, withdrawal and
rehabilitation is currently being implemented. A recent report on visits by a Commission representative to
two of these centres,
(cid:145)Although there is still a lack of
coordination between the different implementing partners, the Community Education and Action (CEA)
centres are becoming operational. The Pakistan Federal Secretary of Labour has realised the importance of
the project and is putting pressure on the Punjab Provincial Labour Department to ensure the progress of
the project. It is important that the children selected are from the most hazardous forms of child labour.
The possibility of having a second shift in the schools is being studied.(cid:146)

Pakistan(cid:146)s military-led government approved on 10 May 2000 a policy which envisages the progressive
elimination of child labour from all economic sectors.
It envisages the phased withdrawal of child
labourers from the worst forms of exploitation, prevention of under-aged children entering the labour
market, universalisation of primary education,
family empowerment and finally the rehabiltation of
working children through non-formal education, pre-vocational training and skill development.