For the world, the concept of human slavery is outdated. Still, at this modern age and time, Afghanistan, a country that sets on trillions of dollars or resources, compels people to choose slavery, a mere choice, a slavery exclusive of religion, caste, or any other concepts but solely based on utter poverty and war. In the eastern part of the country, the city of Jalalabad witnesses the misfortunate and the curse of the decades long conflicts. The city itself is devasted by the decades of war, internal conflicts, the presence of different militant groups, the influx of internally displaced population from other provinces, and above all, poverty compelled the destitute population for working in Bricks factories, perhaps the sole choice for many of the vulnerable individuals and families other than begging.
The Photo story is about the condition of the brick factories merely owned by mighty individuals and warlords. Some 10 miles from the metropolitan of Jalalabad city, lies the biggest slum village of the brick’s laborers. Unemployment, corruption, war, the lack of employment opportunities, lack of manufacturing factories, and traditional agriculture methods that often results a disadvantage for the farmers despite all efforts leave the families to opt to work in brick factories.
Just spending a few hours in the village and one can easily find thousands of vulnerable families trapped in structured manner by the brick factory owners. The brick owners tricked them by offering financial support to bind them into lifelong labor contracts in return. The laborers work more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week, under intense weather conditions, including the scorching heat of Jalalabad city in summer in return for less than 5$ for producing 1000 bricks. This income is insufficient for food, let alone paying debts and sometimes even interest. Hence, the cycle of debt continues for some families and individuals for years.