Labour: Worth their salt

                       Machinery is replacing humans                                

With more than 100 salt mines in Tharparkar, workers suffer from serious financial and health problems due to alleged exploitation by salt lake owners and violation of labour laws. This is growing concern not only for salt-mine workers but also for human rights defenders and the locals.
“Salt lakes develop naturally. Rainwater that stays on the surface produces salt, however the government claims to own all kinds of minerals present under or above the soil, even though the land could belong to anyone,” says Hamzo, a labourer at Tepari Salt Lake, in agreement with other workers.
Even though priority for leasing is given to the locals, they are unable to invest because of poverty. Hence, outsiders are granted leases and hire local labour to work in the harsh environment. In this situation, labour laws are completely ignored. “The lessee is supposed to follow rules and regulations but in reality, they don’t,” says Hamzo.

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Use of machinery and labour law violations add to the hardship of drought-stricken Tharis

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In Sindh, there are salt lakes and mines in Sanghar and Umerkot districts, while the largest salt mine is in Khewra, Punjab. According to Naimatullah Brohi, deputy director of the mines and minerals department at Mithi, there are more than 100 salt mines in Tharparkar district. Although the salt lakes in Tharparkar and Sanghar districts are centuries old, extraction from these began only 20 years ago.
“The Tepari Salt Lake daily produces eight to 10 big trolleys of salt which is around 80 tonnes,” adds Hamzo. “These salt lakes are important for the economy of the area, as there is no other industry or source of income in Thar except breeding of livestock.”