Kubasiewicz Laura M, Watson Tamlin, Nye Caroline, Chamberlain Natasha, Perumal Ramesh K, Saroja Ramesh, Norris Stuart L, Raw Zoe, Burden Faith A
The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 0NU, UK.
Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Anim Welf. 2023 Jan 27;32:e8. doi: 10.1017/awf.2023.1. eCollection 2023.
Slavery, in the form of 'debt-bondage', is rife in Indian brick kilns, where the enforcement of labour laws is poor. Working equids support brick-kiln workers by transporting raw bricks into the kilns, but the situation of equids and their owners within the brick kilns is relatively unknown. We describe the welfare of donkeys () owned under conditions of debt-bondage, examine the links between owner and donkey behaviour, and outline the living conditions of both donkeys and humans working in the brick kilns of Gujarat, India. We then explore the unique experience of debt-bondage by donkey owners, compare migration trends to those of non-donkey-owning workers and assess impacts on their children's education. The physical and behavioural conditions of donkeys reflected that of their owners, creating negative feedback loops and potentially reducing productivity. All donkey owners experienced debt-bondage and were particularly vulnerable to unexpected financial loss. Donkey owners, unlike non-owners, migrated within their home state, enabling their children to attend school. Our work highlights the need for policy reform within the brick-kiln industry to acknowledge the pivotal role of working donkeys in supporting human livelihoods.
以“债务劳役”形式存在的奴隶制在印度砖窑中盛行，那里劳动法的执行情况很差。役用马通过将生砖运进窑中帮助砖窑工人，但砖窑中马及其主人的情况相对不为人知。我们描述了在债务劳役条件下拥有的驴的福利状况，研究了主人与驴行为之间的联系，并概述了印度古吉拉特邦砖窑中驴和人类的生活条件。然后我们探讨了驴主人债务劳役的独特经历，将移民趋势与非驴主工人的趋势进行比较，并评估对他们孩子教育的影响。驴的身体和行为状况反映了其主人的状况，形成了负面反馈循环并可能降低生产力。所有驴主人都经历过债务劳役，特别容易遭受意外的经济损失。与非驴主不同，驴主人在本邦内迁移，以便他们的孩子能够上学。我们的工作强调了砖窑行业进行政策改革的必要性，以承认役用驴在支持人类生计方面的关键作用。
