INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOR

Every year 12th June is celebrated as in world “ World day against child labor” The International Labor Organization (ILO) launched this day in 2002. The purpose is to raise awareness and take action to stop child labor. According to Who any child below 18 years is considered as child and according to ILO child labor is defined as any work that deprives children of their childhood ,their potential and dignity and that which is harmful for their physical and mental improvement. All works are not included as child labor as The work which Morally, socially ,Physically & Mentally harmful to child. It interferes with their schooling Due to long hours of work the child is unable to attend school and remain absent from school. The statics according to UNICEF are very alarming as 160 million children globally are involved in child labor which is increased 8.4 in last four years due to COVID Pandemic. Among these 1. 112 Million (70% ) work in Agriculture 2. 31.4 Million (20%) in services 3. 16.5 Million (10%) in industries Further about 28% of children between 5 To 11 years and 35% aged between 12 to 14 are out of school. The statics show that boys are more involved in child labor as girls but the girls are working unpaid at houses which is not calculated . According to ILO the children in labor must not be less than 15 years and in developing countries it is 14 years 9In line of school leaving age) What is situation in Pakistan about child Labor . According to Express Tribune 18th December 2022 about 3.3 million children are involved in child labor in Pakistan Daily dawn 16th January 2016 Pakistan ranks number THREE in the world in child and forced labor while significant decline is observed worldwide which is increasing day by day and no doubt this might be much more as Pakistan is always poor in data accuracy. The reasons are multiple including Poverty ,high prevalence of Literacy ,Lack of Social security ,Unemployment of parents or lack of decent work along with uncontrolled inflation along with the inefficiency of government to implement laws though the law is there as Employment of of Children Act 1991 prohibits employment of children under 14 years of age in unsafe and hazardous Environment such as factories, Carpet Industries and Mines (ANI 29th July 2021). And according to “Punjab Restriction on Employment of children act 2016 (Act L of 2016) an Occupier ,who employs or permits a child to work in an establishment ,shall be liable to punishment for a term which may extent to Six Months ,but shall not be less than Seven days with a Fine which may extend Fifty Thousands but shall not be less than Ten Thousands. Though World Trade Organization has imposed Sanctions and Trade barriers on countries which indulge children in work force and Pakistan is one of them . But who cares about laws who is responsible for implementation. According to UNICEF only 34% children under five years are registered at birth which is basic right of child at the time of birth along with other basic rights but due to inefficient system and lack of awareness it is also not implemented. In rural areas children are working in Agriculture and those who do not have any opportunity for Agriculture work move to urban areas where they either work in houses as domestic workers or in industries . As the children are paid less as compared to adults for same work the employer higher children especially in carpet industry where the live and work for more than 20 hours resulting to get lung disease like TB, Asthma and different allergies in early ages which compromises their health while they become young adults. Young girls are hired for domestic work as not only they are paid less and their parents are given heavy bribe and these young girls sometimes face cruelest behavior of their employees. If Government does not take action to implement law we as individual can take responsibility not to hire children for domestic work not less than 14 years as defined by ILO . We can point out the industries which are hiring children as labor, raise awareness among parents and community and if we can help them in getting decent work as much as possible.