“Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains,
but I will see the end of child labor in my lifetime.”
God has given human beings the boom of wisdom and dis-creation to think of the universe and to draw conclusions. That is the reason why they disclose the hidden facts of it and its structure and have made remarkable process in many walks of life. Children are the flowers of heaven. They are the most beautiful and purest creation of GOD and the most precious gift from Allah.
Early in the morning, when the children wake up and put on different kinds of uniform and begin to go to school for the sake of knowledge, we feel a specific kind of joy through their innocence. But there are other children who can’t go to school due to financial problems, they only watch others go and can merely wish to seek knowledge. It is due to many hindrances and difficulties, that they face in life. Having been forced to kill their aspirations, dreams and their other wishes, they are pressed to earn a living for themselves and their families. When a child in addition to education, and a livelihood, this act of earning and livelihood is called child labor.
The concept of child labor got much attention during the 1990’s when the European countries announced a ban on the goods of less developed countries due to child labor.
“UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY FUND (UNICEF) defines “child” as anyone under the age of 18, and “child labor” as some type of work performed by the children below the age of 18”.
Any nation that wants to be a developed one in the future should try its best to facilitate its children. Child labor is considered as a serious crime all over the world. The number of child labor in Pakistan is about 8 to 10 million. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan estimated in 1990’s, 11 million children were working in the country, half of which under the age of ten. In 1996, the median age of the child entering the work phase was seven, down from the eight years in 1944. It was estimated that one-quarter of country’s work phase was made up of children. In a city of Pakistan, Hyderabad children enter into work phase at the age of 4-5 years making bangles and bracelets.
The last survey was conducted by Nawaz Sharif government in 1996. According to the survey, 3.3 million children were working, out of which 73% were boys and 27% were girls. The children made up about 7% of the total workforce, according to the findings of a survey. In provincial distribution, the government indicated that the volume of child labor in Punjab was about 1.9 million, three-fifth (60%) of total child labor in the country. In the province of KPK, there was about 1 million of child labor. Sindh had a population of 2.98,000 child labors. The lower was of Baluchistan about 14,000 because of a lesser number of households reporting child labor. There was the majority in agricultural occupations. In the activities of child labor include shepherding, collecting firewood, fetching firewood, spraying fertilizers, catering and caring for the siblings.
According to the 1996 survey’s finding, eight times more working children in rural areas than in urban areas. The children employed with the diversified occupations of loading and unloading of goods, serving at restaurants, working at fisheries, auto-workshops, rag picking, shoe-shining, begging etc. A Rapid Assessment of Child Domestic Labor was made by Status of Provincial Child Labor (SPARC) in Islamabad and four provincial capitals, based on selected localities covering 2,492 households in 2004. It reveals that every household in Pakistan employs children for domestic purposes. A majority of their 62% were girls. In Peshawar and Quetta, the proportion of girls were lower than in Lahore, Karachi and twin cities. The KPK and Baluchistan are relatively conservative regions, so there is a lesser number of female mobility. They work in varieties such as shoe-shining, selling pen, and similar stuff. There are different types of children, who are living on the streets and work, then the children working in the factories and gone at their houses at the end of the day, while the children working on the streets are at the mercy of their employers. It was estimated that 1.2 million children were working in the Pakistan’s major cities and urban centers. They include “runaway” children, who live or work on the streets, the minority will return to their families with their meager earnings.
According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) survey,72% children are not in contact with their families, and 10%of them are unaware of their families and details. Many NGO’s are working on child labor. The government also helps NGO’s, providing them staff and database. That’s why many children are found in crimes due to this lack of accommodation.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) suggest that the poverty is the greatest single cause behind child labor. As of 2008, 17.2% of total population lives below the poverty line, which is the lowest figure in the history of Pakistan. To change this psyche, we need to raise awareness of parents so they educate their children instead of forcing them into labor. This cruel culture must come to an end.
The government of Pakistan, as well as NGO’s, should help that type of children to end this culture make primary education compulsory for every child, these children are the future of Pakistan, we all know that action speaks louder than words.
The government should make the appropriate laws against child labor and impose them strictly against people. Then say, “SAY NO TO CHILD LABOR”
(BY- SAMIA FATIMA KHALIDI)