Baba Inayat, an older man and grandfather, explains his story in his own words. His story is about modern-day slavery and the vicious circle of debt. He started working in Pakistan brick kilns when the daily wage was just five rupees to support his family, but later, he was caught in a debt trap. He stated while telling his story about bonded labor and endless struggle.
I have spent over 50 years in this work. My sons followed me into it, and now my grandchildren are here, too. No matter how hard we work, the debt never ends. We do not move forward; we do not escape. This place is a prison, and we are its prisoners.
In Pakistan, more than 3 million people, including children, are forced to work for someone else. People work 14 to 16 hours a day in dire conditions for wages that are too low to get out of debt. Bonded labor is one of the most heartbreaking forms of modern slavery. People take small amounts of loans and get trapped in a debt circle as they never make enough money to return it, or with time, debt increases. Thousands of people in Pakistan are forced into labor in brick-making facilities, on farms, and in mines.
He continued saying that.
This industry is like a quagmire. Once you're stuck in, you can't escape its trap, and you are bound to stay here forever. It is like a death sentence.
He explained,
My whole family is still working. If a family member gets sick, we won't be able to pay for medical care. I started this when I was young, like my children and grandchildren. My only wish is that my grandchildren don't live like me or my children did. I hope they get a good education so that they can live a better life.
Baba Inayat's story is one of millions trapped in bonded labor. Whole families work from sunrise to sunset, but their debt never decreases. They have no chance of escaping, no healthcare, and no schooling, and they believe that freedom is only a dream.
Through the Freedom Campaign of the Al Mustafa Welfare Trust, we are trying to free people and families who are trapped in a cycle of debt. So, they can start life with dignity and be freed from life-long hardships. With your Zakat and Sadaqah, you can free these people from modern slavery. Donate today and be the reason someone walks free.