Catalysing social responsibility in brick industries in India: From policy to practice

Organizers: ICIMOD, All-India Brick and Tile Manufacturers Federation (AIBTMF), Development Alternatives (DA)

About the workshop

In collaboration with Development Alternatives (DA) and the All-India Brick and Tile Manufacturers Federation (AIBTMF), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is organising two days consultation workshop on “Catalysing social responsibility in brick industries in India: From policies to practice” in New Delhi from12-13 November 2025. This workshop will convene brick entrepreneurs from the Indian Himalayan states to discuss key social challenges related to the dignity of labour and to explore mechanisms for accessing government schemes relevant to the brick sector at national and state levels. It will also showcase best practices from brick associations that are strengthening social safeguards for workers.

The consultation workshop will provide a common platform for the members of AIBTMF to review and discuss the draft Social Code of Conduct (SCoC) for India’s brick sector. The draft SCoC has been co-developed in consultation with representatives of the AIBTMF executive committee, aligning with the national labour standards and relevant state-level policies of the Government of India.

Objectives

The objectives of this consultation workshop are to:

• Facilitate exchange of best practices adopted by brick entrepreneurs across different Indian states.
• Identify key social challenges in the Indian brick sector and explore how existing national and state level policies can be effectively aligned for implementation to address them.
• Collect feedback on the draft Social Code of Conduct (SCoC) for India’s brick sector, ensuring alignment with national labour standards, state policies, and current ground realities.

Expected outcomes

• Social unit formed by AIBTMF with clear roles and responsibilities to provide feedback and suggestions to finalise a practical Social Code of Conduct (SCoC) for adoption by the brick industries in Indian Himalayan states.
• Strengthened collaboration among members of AIBTMF and governments to enhance social safeguard compliance in the Indian brick sector.

Background

South Asia accounts for nearly a quarter of global brick production, with India being the second-largest producer, manufacturing around 250 billion bricks annually through an estimated 144,000 brick kilns that employ nearly 15 million workers. The sector remains largely informal and faces significant social challenges across all South Asian countries, including India. These challenges include informal labour arrangements, inadequate workplace safety and basic facilities, and concerns related to the health, safety, and education of women and children. Therefore, the effective implementation and monitoring of operational rules and regulations, underpinned by sound policies and legislation, are crucial.

In Nepal, ICIMOD has partnered with the Federation of Nepal Brick Industries (FNBI) to co-develop a Social Code of Conduct (SCoC) for the country’s brick sector, aligning it with the national labour standards of the Government of Nepal. This Code seeks to promote socially responsible labour management practices, thereby improving the working and living conditions of brick workers in Nepal.

In India, however, there is currently a lack of policies that explicitly address the social dimensions of the brick sector, although several national initiatives have sought to regulate it. Drawing inspiration from Nepal’s example, a similar Social Code of Conduct is being customised for India, in alignment with the country’s existing policy framework to address the social challenges and improve labour issues.

About the organisers

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a leading regional and intergovernmental knowledge and learning centre, serving the eight HKH countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. With four decades of experience in the region, the ICIMOD Strategy 2030: Moving Mountains raises the ambition and envisions a greener, inclusive, and climate-resilient HKH. As per ICIMODʼs structural portfolio, Settlements intervention under Action Area- Economies and Strategic Group “Resilient Economies and Landscapes”, places significant emphasis on sustainable and resilient development of human settlements in the mountains.

The Development Alternatives (DA) is a social enterprise based in New Delhi India. DA is dedicated to sustainable development through research and action striving to deliver socially equitable, environmentally sound and economically scalable development outcomes.

The All-India Brick and Tile Manufacturers Federation (AIBTMF) is a non-government public company registered at Registrar of Companies, Delhi in 1962. It is an umbrella association bringing together manufacturers from the brick and tile industries in India. It provides a platform for sharing knowledge, discussing industry trends, addressing challenges, and spearheading growth and development initiatives.