Brick Kiln Workers in Uttar Pradesh Grapple with Poor Wages, Harsh Work Conditions

Lucknow, May 4: This Labour Day, a critical sector in the state's infrastructural development is crying for help. Thousands of workers employed in brick kilns across the state are struggling for fair wages, better work environment and access to basic amenities, while kiln owners seek access to govt schemes and facilities.

Industry Overview

India is the second-largest producer of bricks in the world after China. UP itself has around 19,500 kilns. Of the thousands of workers employed there, roughly 15% are from UP and the rest are migrant labourers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and other states.

Buniyaad Collective's Efforts

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 and approached 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.

Registration & Policy Gaps

UP has a policy on brick kilns, but it is an old one and there are no talks about revision. While the UP govt recently formulated more inclusive labour laws, brick kiln workers fall through the gaps as most are not even from UP, and largely neither registered with UP govt nor with their respective state.

"They can't get labour cards as to get one they need Aadhaar KYC, but they change their numbers frequently. Like universal ration, these workers should be able to access health facilities through labour cards," said Ranjan.

Health Issues Faced by Workers

Back pain, eyesight problems, breathing issues due to dust, and skin issues are prominent problems that these workers face. Many workers suffer from body pain due to their working posture.

Mahajan Ali, who works at the grassroots in Jaunpur, describes the hardships of workers, who are especially vulnerable to health issues due to their 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' Perspective

Ratan Srivastava, a brick kiln owner from Chandauli, said they were asked to update their technology frequently, but they get no financial assistance from the govt.

"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.