http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/07/officials-trying-to-identify-enslaved-disabled-workers-rescued-from-brick-kiln/
This article outlines a recent struggle the Chinese government is having in identifying 30 workers rescued from a brick kiln where they had been enslaved. One of the reasons why identifying the victims is so difficult in this case is that many of them have mental illnesses or are disabled, according to the police. Over the past 3 years, more than 1,500 people have been rescued from illegal brick kilns in China, but reports show that more than 53,000 people still work at these types of kilns.
This article outlines two atrocities in the world: forced labor, and the abuse of people with mental illnesses. Populations that are weaker tend to be preyed on by traffickers and slave-owners. These populations include the poor, the young, the elderly, and those with mental illnesses.
Governments need to crack down on all forms of modern-day slavery, whether it is in the brick kilns or on the street corners. If studies can find 53,000 people working in illegal brick kilns, how many more are actually in China, or even the rest of the world? Action is needed.
This is really sad to me that places like this still exist. The work force should be a place where people feel happy and are excited to work. Not only is this job harmful to health, but it is dehumanizing people. There needs to be laws in China on what is okay and what is not. This type of work force is not okay and something needs to be changed. The UN needs to get together and make rules that apply to the work force.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy to think that this is real. It really is heart wrenching. However, what can be done? China is so big, and the government really does not care for their people. It really makes a person wonder if laws would even help. Look at places that do have trafficking laws, they still have issues with it. These things just gone on too long.
ReplyDeleteI was surprise that this still happens in the world today. That is incredible that fifty-three thousand people are held in kilns only in China. I would believe this story to be true in another country with a poor government but this should not be happing in China. China has one of the most powerful governments in the world and this article demonstrates where China’s priorities stand. The Chines government does need to do a much better job at eliminating these kilns.
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