Bermudians are being urged to think of millions of people suffering the effects of slavery in Pakistan.

Everyone is encouraged to sign an e-mail letter to the Asian country's Ministry of Labour to demand more is done to stop bonded labour which reaches into countless different industries.

A bonded labourer pledges their labour in exchange for a loan, but then loses all control over their conditions of work and what, if anything, they get paid.

Bonded labourers are not free to seek other jobs and are trapped into working very long hours, often for many years, until the debt is considered to have been repaid.

Anti-Slavery International — which has teamed up with The Royal Gazette for our Break The Chains campaign for the past year — has penned the letter, found on this page. To sign it, go to www.antislavery.org/homepage/campaign/pakistanaction.htm

The letter states that little progress has been made against bonded labour despite efforts by Government, and calls for legislation to abolish the practice to be adopted in full.

It will be sent to the Ministry of Labour in Pakistan and copied to Heino Marius, Deputy Head of Unit in the Asia Directorate, European Commission Directorate-General for External Relations.

The Government of Pakistan passed the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1992, and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Rules, 1995, which prohibit and punish bonded labour.

However, in 2000, researchers estimated more than 1.8 million agricultural sharecroppers were in debt bondage in Pakistan, with up to one million brick kiln workers in bonded labour.

Another recent survey showed nearly 90 percent of brick kiln workers took advances from their kiln-owner, describing their loan repayment period as indefinite.

About two thirds of households had annual incomes less than the equivalent of $167 despite commonly working ten hours each day, while three quarters of workers complained of restrictions which sought to prevent them seeking other jobs.

Anti-slavery campaigners say these figures highlight the need to ensure bonded labourers are identified and those breaking the law prosecuted.

Steps which should be taken include: carry out a national survey to identify the extent of bonded labour; raise awareness; prepare rehabilitation programmes for freed bonded labourers.

For the past year, Break The Chains has been asking readers to back Anti-Slavery International's Fight For Freedom declaration, which calls for world leaders to end all forms of human captivity, including human trafficking, child labour, bonded labour and forced marriage.

The number of signatures on the worldwide list has passed 50,000 — but campaigners stress it remains vital for as many people as possible to add their names.

All you have to do to sign it is log onto the Internet and follow a few simple instructions on your computer screen.

In the next few weeks, this newspaper will be submitting a final copy of the declaration to Government and Government House, to coincide with UK campaigners' presentation to their Parliament.

To sign the petition, log on to www.antislavery.org/2007 and add your details.