Explain Women Bonded Labour.

Women bonded labor refers to the exploitation of women in forced labor arrangements, where individuals are compelled to work to repay a debt or obligation, often under coercive or exploitative conditions. Women may become bonded laborers due to various factors such as poverty, indebtedness, lack of education, caste-based discrimination, and social marginalization.

In many cases, women are trapped in bonded labor through deceptive recruitment practices, fraudulent loans, or exploitation by employers or traffickers. They are subjected to long hours of work, meager wages, physical and sexual abuse, and harsh living conditions, with little or no recourse to escape or seek assistance.

Women bonded laborers are often employed in sectors such as agriculture, domestic work, construction, and manufacturing, where they perform arduous and hazardous tasks with little regard for their health, safety, or well-being. They face multiple layers of oppression and discrimination based on gender, caste, class, and ethnicity, exacerbating their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse.

Efforts to address women bonded labor require comprehensive measures addressing root causes such as poverty, gender inequality, and social exclusion, along with enforcement of laws, provision of social protection, and empowerment of women through education, economic opportunities, and awareness-raising initiatives. By recognizing and addressing the specific challenges faced by women bonded laborers, society can work towards eradicating this egregious form of modern slavery and promoting gender equality and social justice.