Research
Dr Fouzia Saeed has worked on bonded labour since 2002. She has commissioned and conducted research on this form of modern slavery in Pakistan. While at Mehergarh, she facilitated the release of bonded labourers from feudal landlords and, as head of ActionAid, helped activists acquire land to resettle freed families. This land is now known as Azad Nagar. She collaborated closely with iconic activists like Veerji Kohli and Veeru, both of whom were formerly in bondage. In recognition of her decades-long efforts, Dr Fouzia received a special award from the liberated men, women, and children, and the Greens Development Organization.
Bonded Labour—a system where farm workers are trapped in perpetual debt to landlords—has long plagued interior Sindh. Despite growing awareness in recent years, widespread apathy persists, rooted in ignorance, caste and religious discrimination (as most bonded labourers are Hindu), and the political power of feudal classes that stifles meaningful reform.
Two schools of thought exist in addressing this issue. One treats landlords who use bonded labour as criminals and calls for strict implementation of the 1992 Bonded Labour Law. The other views this as a deeply entrenched, co-dependent system and seeks to reform the landlord–labourer relationship to reduce inequality.
This booklet offers a new perspective by documenting the lived experiences of women in bondage. It highlights their emotional and physical struggles and their long, courageous journeys to freedom. Rather than analyze their stories, the booklet presents them as told, respecting the women’s desire for authenticity. Names of landlords have been changed to protect the women from retaliation; the women insisted on keeping their own names.
The discussion around bonded labour often focuses on income distribution and debt manipulation. However, these narratives show that power imbalance—including gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and systemic degradation—is just as critical. Our society continues to elevate landlords while demeaning the working class and women, perpetuating the conditions for abuse. Any future reforms must address the feudal power dynamic as much as economic injustice.
Although some camps offer safe refuge to freed families, the women reported abuse from certain camp operators. This reveals how the exploitative mindset extends beyond the landlords. One woman poignantly remarked: “We escaped the landlord, but now these so-called well-wishers enter our homes in exchange for their aid.”
We hope this publication prompts a broader conversation about the realities of bonded women in Pakistan, and encourages policy makers, courts, and progressive landowners to stand with the oppressed. The stories also urge activists to reframe the current debate to include the unique needs and perspectives of women.
