Poverty, discrimination and slavery. The reality of bonded labour in India, Nepal and Pakistan

This report is a study of the reasons why bonded labour, a contemporary form of slavery, persists in
India, Nepal and Pakistan. In particular, it examines the effectiveness of state interventions against
bonded labour that have been made since anti-bonded legislation came into force in South Asia. While some issues are country specific, the analysis shows that underlying factors such as poverty,
inequality and discrimination are repeated in each country.The report includes a number of recommendations which, if fully implemented, would lead to the eradication of bonded labour in South Asia.