Brothers in Work
A look at the dangerous work performed by ship-scrappers in Pakistan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_niv-NV0opU
Filmmaker: Michael Glawogger
The ship-scrappers in Gaddani, Pakistan cut huge oil tankers into pieces for scrap metal. This is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
As the massive pieces of steel fall into the sea, the men perform their hazardous work with perfectly choreographed coordination.
One slip of foot or one moment’s negligence could spell disaster. One labourer is philosophical about the risks: “If we are injured, we are actually glad, or we don’t mind,” he says, “because good and bad come from God. We fear neither injuries nor death.”
“We’re like brothers to each other,” says one labourer. “And we have to trust each other. After all, we’re all that we’ve got.”
A harrowing and visually-stunning excursion into the brutal realities of life for manual labourers.
Brothers in Work aired from Tusday, December 1, 2009.