Lucknow: This Labour Day, a critical sector in the state's infrastructural development is crying for help. Thousands of workers employed in brick kilns across Uttar Pradesh are continuing to struggle for fair wages, better work environment, and access to basic amenities, while kiln owners seek access to government schemes and facilities.
India's Brick Industry and UP's Dominance
India is the second-largest producer of bricks in the world after China. Uttar Pradesh alone has around 19,500 kilns. However, of the thousands of workers employed there, roughly 15% are from UP, while the rest are migrant labourers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and other states.
Charter of Demands Remains Unaddressed
In 2025, Buniyaad, a multi-stakeholder collective working in UP's brick industry for equity-based decarbonisation, helped draft a charter of over 100 demands from both workers and kiln owners. They approached the skill development, MSME, and labour departments. “Some departments responded, but largely, nothing much has been achieved in the past year,” said Alok Ranjan, campaigner, Buniyaad.
Outdated Policies and Gaps in Labour Laws
UP has a policy on brick kilns, but it is an old one, and there are no talks about revision. While the UP government recently formulated more inclusive labour laws, providing safeguards to even contractual employees, brick kiln workers fall through the gaps. Most are not even from UP and are largely neither registered with the UP government nor with their respective state. They come to UP for 7-8 months each year to work in kilns and return to their villages.
“These workers are from marginalised communities, often in an endless debt trap with contractors who hire them. You can say they work like bonded labourers. We have been approaching various departments, but there has been no cohesive action,” said Ranjan.
Barriers to Accessing Benefits
Workers face difficulties obtaining labour cards due to Aadhaar KYC requirements, as they frequently change their mobile numbers. “Like universal ration, these workers should be able to access health facilities through labour cards, and the government should understand the specific nature of their work to grant them these cards easily,” he said.
Health Hazards Faced by Workers
Back pain, eyesight problems, and skin issues are prominent problems that these workers face. Many suffer from body pain due to their working posture, while some report breathing issues due to dust. Mahajan Ali, who works at the grassroots in Jaunpur, describes the hardships of workers, especially vulnerable to health issues due to proximity to dust and high temperatures. “When labourers come to work in a kiln, they set up tents around it where their families, including children, stay,” he said.
Kiln Owners Also Seek Support
Due to an outdated policy, not only workers but kiln owners also complain of a lack of facilities. Ratan Srivastava, a brick kiln owner from Chandauli, said they were asked to update their technology frequently but receive no financial assistance from the government. “Kiln owners have been given a bad name, but we are enforcing 14 labour laws. We have also been asking for the labour to be skilled, but nobody is paying attention,” he said.
