Amnesty International: Pakistan’s Sanitation Workers Face Severe Discrimination and Exploitation

A new report from Amnesty International exposes the deep-seated discrimination and exploitation of sanitation workers in Pakistan. The report, titled “Cut Us Open and See That We Bleed Like Them,” uncovers a system that targets marginalized communities, primarily Christians and Hindus from “lower castes,” subjecting them to dangerous, low-paying work while denying them basic labor rights and dignity. The investigation, conducted in collaboration with the Pakistani rights group Center for Law & Justice, is based on the testimonies of over 230 sanitation workers from several cities. The report illustrates how caste and religion dictate hiring decisions, with individuals being offered sanitation work based on their background. Sanitation workers are often subjected to derogatory language, segregation, and women workers experience gender-based discrimination. The report highlights the precarious employment conditions, including a lack of permanent contracts, leaving workers vulnerable. Working conditions are often hazardous, lacking adequate protective equipment, leading to health problems and fear of job loss. Amnesty International points out the inadequacy of current laws in protecting sanitation workers from caste-based discrimination, violating international commitments. The report calls for urgent legislative reforms to outlaw caste-based discrimination, ensure labor protections, and end the discriminatory assignment of minorities to sanitation work. Amnesty International warns that unless Pakistan addresses these systemic abuses, the sanitation workforce will continue to be trapped in a cycle of exploitation, driven by state neglect, social prejudice, and institutionalized injustice.