An Integrated Approach Towards Child Labor Problem
"There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children
. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they can grow up in peace."
Kofi Annan
Misery on face, want in eyes, empty stomach, deprived, barefooted, wearing torn and dirty clothes with grease on hands, face and everywhere. This is the condition of Irfan, 10 working in a workshop in the Capital Islamabad's sector I-9. Ominously, these are not only the attributes of Irfan alone but 21 million children from 5-14 years of age work in Pakistan according to an unofficial the Survey of all Pakistan Labor Force conducted in 1007-2008. These children work under hazardous conditions or beg for hours and hours and get literally nothing in return except for a "roti" or meager amount of money. The children, known as child labor' or street-children' are fully exposed and vulnerable to the evils of society. It is a bitter reality that child labor has become an accepted norm in Pakistani society which cries for an enduring integrated approach from the whole society.
Child labor is a very complex problem which needs a full and well-integrated approach on the part of government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the society on the whole. People's attitudes and behaviors are needed to be changed. The underlying reasons behind working children are needed to be addressed including poverty, adult unemployment, illiteracy, ineffective child labor laws, lack of free education and meals at school, no funds form the government for such children, lack of awareness in society etc. A personal survey conducted by the writer in sector I-9 by interviewing 50 children working or begging on streets and workshops shows that 75% children work due to poverty and they want to study but can't afford to go to school. Repentantly, the government spends only 3% of Gross Domestic Product on education as opposed to 10 times defense spending. 100% children of them are unaware of any educational relief or financial support from the government or any other non-governmental organization.
To eradicate and abolish the child labor problem it is imperative for the government make well-informed policies which aim to address the underlying problems. There are child labor laws in Pakistan like "Employment of Children Act 1997", and "Punjab Compulsory Education Act 1994" etc. but evidence suggests their ineffectiveness. More recently, the Labor Policy of 2010 also contains provisions for social and economic wellbeing of labor including children. However, scores of children work under hazardous conditions at brick kilns, workshops, instruments, games, and carpet industries, and households. Pakistan is an agricultural society and 80% of population lives in rural areas where 73.6% population according to International Labor Organization lives under US $2 per day. So, children under 15 years work in fields with their parents who even are not paid. Pakistan is a feudal society so there is also the problem of bonded labor despite of "the Bonded Labor System Abolition Act 1992". According to ILO 100,000 children and women are trafficked internally and 200,000 are trafficked across borders ending up in labor and sexual exploitation. There are other laws pertaining to child labor in Pakistan including the.
Despite child labor laws, the number of working children surge in our society which shows the "ineffectiveness of child labor laws in Pakistan". One of the most imperative reasons for the ineffectiveness of these policies are that child labor activity cannot be controlled or eliminated by just passing a law. There are several informal employers of child labors who are not even aware of these laws like households, workshops, farmers, and carpet making industries etc. hence, these laws are difficult to implement which makes it very challenging to regulate and control. In this regard the society can play an informal but very positive role by showing dissent for child labor and not employing under age children in households, workshops, and other areas. NGOs can also be very effective in this regards as these work on the grass root levels and media's role is inevitable for spreading awareness among masses. Furthermore, international organizations such as ILO can provide advice and assistance to government officials, employers, and NGOs to curb the problem.
Thus, the child labor problem needs an integrated approach and long-term policies are prerequisite. Punitive measures are not effective like International boycott against products involving child labor. It only gives rise to poverty and unemployment which further exacerbate the problem. Hence root cause of poverty and illiteracy are needed to be addressed. Children should be provided with free and skill-based vocational training and education with provisions of rehabilitation centers.
An Integrated Approach Towards Child Labor Problem
By: Aliya Abbasi
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