|
Child Labor is one of the ever growing social problems faced
by Pakistan since time immemorial. This causes adverse impact on mental,
physical, moral, and social life of children. In India the figure of child labor
has crossed above 44 million, in Pakistan it is from 8 to 10 million, in
Bangladesh 8-12 million, in Brazil 7 million, whereas it is 12 million in
Nigeria. Unfortunately with the passage of time, there is an increase in child
labor, ranking Pakistan on third position of child and forced labor. According
to an estimate of Child Rights Movement (CRM) National Secretariat, 12.5 million
children in Pakistan victimized in forced labor.
Causes
According to an estimate by International Labor Organization (ILO), poverty is
the primary and major reason behind the menace of child labor. Talking about
Pakistan, the country has high per capita of approximately $ 1900. The daily
wages of a middle class person in Pakistan is around $ 6 on average. An average
Pakistani has to feed nine or ten people with this minimal wage.Another big
cause of child labor is high rate of inflation. In the year 2008, 17.2% of the
total country’s population lives below poverty line. This is the lowest figure
in the history of Pakistan. Due to immense poverty prevailing in the country,
parents urge their children to work in order to reach the target of take-home
salary.
|
|
 |
|
According to a research conducted by Akhtar, Fatima, &Sadaqt, another main cause
of child labor in Baluchistan’s fishing sector was the low quality of education,
lack of job opportunities, and lack of economic progress in the region. High
dropout rates and low literacy rates is the major highlight in the province.
Making on effective policies on quality education can considerably reduce the
ever growing rate of child labor.
Child Labor in Pakistan
In Pakistan children aged 5-14 are above 40 million.During the last year, the
Federal Bureau of Statistics released the results of its survey funded by ILO’s
IPEC (International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor). The findings
were that 3.8 million children age group of 5-14 years are working in Pakistan
out of total 40 million children in this age group; fifty percent of these
economically active children are in age group of 5 to 9 years. Even out of these
3.8 million economically active children, 2.7 million were claimed to be working
in the agriculture sector. Two million and four hundred thousand (73%) of them
were said to be boys.
Steps Taken by Government on Child Labor in Pakistan
There are number of lawsregarding the prohibition of child labor, or regulating
the working conditions for adolescent workers. The most significant laws are:
• The Factories Act 1934
• The West Pakistan Shops and Establishments Ordinance 1969
• The Employment of Children Act 1991
• The Bonded Labor System Abolition Act 1992
• The Punjab Compulsory Education Act 1994
• The Employment of Children Rules 1995
Constitutional Provisions
Article 3: the state shall ensure the eradication of all forms of exploitation
and the regular fulfillment of fundamental principle, from each according to his
ability and to each according to his work.
Article 11(3): No child below the age of 14 years shall be engaged in any
factory or mine or any other hazardous employment.
Article 25(A): The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all
children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as determined by
law.
Article 37(e): The state shall make provision for securing just and humane
conditions of work, ensuring that women and children are not employed in
vacations unsuited to their age or sex, and for maternity benefits for women in
employment.
Child labor remains one of the major problems troubling Pakistani children. Many
laws have been passed in an attempt to limit or eradicate this menace from our
society. Unfortunately, these laws are globally ignored. Around 11 million
children between 4 – 14 age groups are behind the operations of country’s
factories, working in even hazard conditions.
|
|
|
|
Minimum Work Age in Pakistan
According to Employment of Children Act 1991 a “child” is categorized as a
person below 14 years of age and an “adolescent” is below 18 years of age. The
Constitution of Pakistan also regards the minimum work age as 14 years. However,
the 18th amendment has actually risen the minimum age up to 16 years without
amending the labor laws, this has increased the contradiction. Article 25(A) of
the Constitution says that the state now has to provide compulsory education to
all children between the ages of five and sixteen years, which means that, a
child can’t be allowed to work before 16 years of age.
There are certain exceptions to this law. It says clearly that no child has to
be employed in any occupation which is hazardous for children except the family
business or in any (training) school established, assisted and recognized by the
government. |