Uttar Pradesh accounted for nearly seven in 10 reported bonded labour victims in 2024, while delays in official action and unspent rehabilitation funds raise concerns over the protection of vulnerable workers

India continues to face a serious challenge in eliminating bonded labour, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for the largest share of reported victims and several other states contributing to the bulk of recorded cases. Although the country has a legal framework prohibiting bonded labour, gaps in identification, rescue, rehabilitation and enforcement continue to leave vulnerable workers exposed to exploitation.

The scale of the problem is reflected in National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. Between 2018 and 2024, India reported 9,764 bonded labour victims. Uttar Pradesh accounted for approximately seven out of every 10 reported victims in 2024, compared with around eight out of 10 in 2023. Together, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Karnataka accounted for more than 90% of the victims reported in 2024.

The figures highlight a persistent concentration of reported cases in a handful of states. They also raise questions about the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms and whether rescued workers receive the financial assistance and long-term support needed to rebuild their lives.

Family Rescued in Telangana Highlights the Risks of Labour Trafficking

A recent case involving a family of 12 from Uttar Pradesh illustrates how promises of employment can become a pathway to forced labour.

The family was allegedly lured away from Uttar Pradesh by a trafficker who promised better daily wages. However, at a construction site in Bachupally, in Telangana’s Medchal-Malkajgiri district, the family was reportedly paid only ₹143 a week. When the family attempted to return home, its members allegedly faced threats and assault and were prevented from leaving.

Government officials rescued the family, including six children, earlier in October. Authorities are investigating the allegations under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

The case illustrates the vulnerability of migrant workers who depend on intermediaries to find employment in unfamiliar locations. Workers who lack written employment agreements, reliable information about wages or access to local support systems can find it difficult to challenge exploitation.

The presence of children in such cases also raises serious concerns about their safety, education and protection from labour exploitation.

Low Wages and Economic Vulnerability Increase the Risk

Low and irregular earnings can make workers more vulnerable to exploitative employment arrangements. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey figures cited in the report, a male casual labourer in India earns an average of ₹455 per day, while a female casual labourer earns ₹315.

For households struggling to meet food, housing, healthcare and education expenses, the promise of higher wages elsewhere can be compelling. However, when recruitment is controlled by intermediaries, workers may be exposed to deception, withheld wages, threats and restrictions on their freedom to leave.

Bonded labour can involve workers being compelled to provide labour to repay an alleged debt or advance, often under conditions that undermine their freedom and dignity. In some cases, the exploitation can extend to entire families, including children.

The problem is not limited to a single industry. Vulnerable workers can face exploitation in sectors such as construction, brick kilns, agriculture, manufacturing and other labour-intensive activities. Migrant workers are particularly exposed when they are separated from their communities and lack access to legal assistance.

What Does Indian Law Say About Bonded Labour?

India has constitutional and statutory protections against forced labour.

Article 23 of the Constitution prohibits human trafficking, begar and other similar forms of forced labour. Article 21 protects the right to life and personal liberty, while Article 24 prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 in factories, mines and other hazardous employment.

The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, abolished the bonded labour system and provides for the release of bonded labourers, extinguishment of bonded debts and action against those who enforce such arrangements.

The law is intended to ensure that workers are not trapped in exploitative relationships through debt, coercion or restrictions on their freedom. However, the existence of legislation does not automatically guarantee effective protection. Identification of victims, prompt rescue, prosecution of offenders and rehabilitation are all essential to translating legal safeguards into meaningful outcomes.

Why Rescue Alone Is Not Enough

Rescuing a worker from an exploitative situation is only the first step. Without timely rehabilitation, survivors may remain economically vulnerable and risk returning to similar circumstances.

Effective rehabilitation can require financial assistance, safe accommodation, access to healthcare, counselling, education for children, livelihood support and help securing identity documents or other essential services. Workers may also need assistance recovering unpaid wages and pursuing legal claims.

Delays in issuing release certificates or providing rehabilitation assistance can make it difficult for survivors to establish their status and access the support available to them. Families returning to their home districts may also struggle to find alternative employment if they lack land, savings or dependable sources of income.

For this reason, rehabilitation should be treated as a continuing process rather than a one-time payment or administrative formality.

Unspent Funds Raise Questions About Implementation

Concerns over unspent central funds add another dimension to the bonded labour problem. The availability of government funding does not necessarily mean that survivors receive assistance promptly.

Administrative delays, incomplete documentation, coordination problems between authorities and difficulties identifying eligible beneficiaries can obstruct the delivery of support. Where funds remain unutilised while rescued workers wait for rehabilitation, the effectiveness of the implementation system comes into question.

Transparent reporting of funds allocated, released and spent would help establish whether financial resources are reaching the people for whom they are intended. Authorities also need to track how many rescued workers receive assistance, how quickly it is delivered and whether survivors are able to secure sustainable livelihoods.

The focus should be on measurable rehabilitation outcomes rather than expenditure figures alone.

Why Uttar Pradesh Requires Greater Attention

Uttar Pradesh’s large share of reported bonded labour victims makes the state central to efforts to address the crisis. The figures point to the need for stronger identification mechanisms, improved enforcement and better coordination between source states and destinations where workers are recruited or employed.

Preventive measures should include monitoring labour intermediaries, verifying recruitment practices, improving access to employment information and ensuring that vulnerable workers can report abuse safely.

Authorities in states receiving migrant workers must also respond quickly to complaints, conduct rescue operations where warranted and coordinate with workers’ home states to facilitate rehabilitation. District administrations, labour departments, police and welfare agencies all have roles to play.

At the same time, recorded victim figures should be interpreted carefully. They reflect reported and identified cases and do not necessarily capture the full extent of bonded labour. Differences in detection, reporting and enforcement may influence the numbers recorded across states.

Accountability and Long-Term Rehabilitation Are Essential

Addressing bonded labour requires action at every stage, from preventing deceptive recruitment to ensuring that survivors can live independently after rescue.

Authorities need to strengthen inspections, investigate alleged traffickers and employers, pursue cases under applicable laws and improve access to legal assistance. Workers should have reliable ways to report exploitation without fear of retaliation.

Equally important is coordination between states when workers are recruited in one region and exploited in another. Timely information-sharing can help authorities identify victims, trace intermediaries and arrange support after rescue.

Independent monitoring of rehabilitation schemes could also improve accountability by identifying delays and gaps in implementation. Publicly available data on rescues, prosecutions, financial assistance and rehabilitation outcomes would provide a clearer picture of progress.

Market and Economic Outlook

Bonded labour is not merely a law-enforcement issue; it is also a development challenge that affects labour mobility, household welfare and the quality of economic growth. Exploitative employment practices undermine workers’ purchasing power, weaken trust in recruitment systems and place additional pressure on public welfare services.

For businesses, stronger labour-law compliance and transparent recruitment practices are essential to reducing legal, operational and reputational risks. Employers and contractors should ensure that workers receive agreed wages, retain the freedom to leave employment and have access to safe channels for raising complaints.

India’s long-term growth will depend not only on creating jobs but also on ensuring that employment is safe, fairly paid and free from coercion. The priority is to convert existing legal protections into effective enforcement and sustained rehabilitation.

The bottom line: Uttar Pradesh’s concentration of reported bonded labour victims highlights the urgency of stronger prevention and accountability. Rescues are critical, but lasting progress will depend on timely rehabilitation, effective prosecution and ensuring that vulnerable families do not return to exploitative working conditions.