In the sugar fields of Maharashtra, India, workers like Gighe Dutta face severe challenges when attempting to quit their jobs. After deciding that his family should leave the physically demanding and unsafe work of cutting sugar cane as his daughter turned 12, Dutta found that his employer was not willing to let him go. He endured violence as his employer and associates forced him into captivity for two days to reconsider his choice.
Maharashtra is known for supplying sugar to major companies, including Coca-Cola and Unilever. Although officials claim that workers can freely leave, many laborers live under constant threat of violent retaliation if they attempt to escape. They lack formal contracts and thus have little power over their employment status.
Reported instances of abuse, including kidnapping, are rarely documented, as victims fear persecution. Despite acknowledging the harsh work conditions, local politicians and sugar producers dismiss claims of rampant abuse, perpetuating the cycle of fear and exploitation in the industry.
