EFFICACY OF SOCIAL SECURITY LAW IN THE UNORGANISED SECTOR: A STUDY OF BRICK KILN WORKERS IN THIRUVALLUR DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU

The unorganised sector constitutes the backbone of India’s labour market, employing an
overwhelming majority of the workforce while remaining structurally excluded from formal
labour protections and comprehensive social security coverage. Brick kiln workers represent
one of the most vulnerable segments within this sector, marked by seasonal migration,
hazardous working conditions, informal wage systems, and persistent debt bondage. This paper
critically examines the efficacy of social security laws in protecting brick kiln workers in
Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu, with particular reference to the Code on Social Security, 2020
and allied labour codes.
Adopting a mixed-method research design, the study draws upon primary data collected
through field surveys and semi-structured interviews with brick kiln workers, contractors, kiln
owners, and labour officials, complemented by doctrinal analysis of statutory provisions and
judicial precedents. The findings reveal a substantial gap between legislative intent and groundlevel
implementation, reflected in low registration levels, weak enforcement, limited employer
accountability, and poor awareness among workers. Despite progressive judicial interpretations
expanding the scope of social security under Articles 21 and 23 of the Constitution, social
protection for brick kiln workers remains largely symbolic.
The paper argues that without sector-specific legislation, mandatory employer contributions,
and decentralised welfare institutions, social security for brick kiln workers will continue to be
ineffective. Drawing comparative insights from Brazil’s rights-based labour and social security
regime, the study proposes concrete policy reforms aimed at transforming social security from
a discretionary welfare model into an enforceable labour right. The study contributes to labour
law scholarship by foregrounding the lived realities of unorganised workers and highlighting the structural deficiencies of India’s contemporary labour codes.
Keywords: Unorganised sector, Brick kiln workers, Social security law, Labour Codes,
Migrant labour, Thiruvallur District