Socio-Economic Life of Working Women at Traditional Brick Kiln Industry of North Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective of the research article is to assess social and economic conditions of women labour at kilns and point out their contributions to the profit at kilns of North Sindh, Pakistan. Purposive sample of 90 kilns non randomly selected is used and only three districts of North Sindh are chosen i.e. Khairpur, Sukkur, and Larkana. Women labour at kilns is required especially for certain jobs at kilns. They do not perform fire job ( to burn bricks) at kilns. Their main job is to mould bricks. Research is quantitative. Duncan Index , wage gap is calculated for kilns. Model used is simple multiple linear regression model which tells about factors affecting availability of labour at kiln. Variables are average labour wage, working hours, Peshgi given, female labour quantity, total working days and annual accidents. On the average 8.5 more males are there per 1 woman working at kilns. There is 4 % loss, on average, if women labour at kiln is not employed. There is 18.5% wage gap for 23 kilns where women work. It means on average male labourers are paid 18.5% more than female labourers. Duncan Index of dissimilarity is 42.3% meaning that 42.3% fraction of women has to change occupation to be equal with males. Model is valid as two variables are Significant. Adjusted R2 is 0.674 and Intercept tells that if all dependent variables are zero the kiln will attract only 1.7 labourers only. Female labour Quantity and total working days, both variables have significant impact on kiln’s full labour Q. It is recommended that women participation at kilns be increased and their wage rate be equated with men labour at kilns and their social security be increased.