ASSIGNMENT

Group no. 3
Group members:
Amna shehzadi
Fazila akram
Rimsha irshad

12130920-014
12130920-037
12130920-049

Submitted to:
Miss mamoona altaf

Submission date: 27, December 2013

Topic:
CHILD LABOR:
A SHAME FOR SOCIETY

Table of content:

 Introduction:
Definition:
What is child labor?
Global issues:
statistics of child labor in Pakistan:
sector distribution of child labor:
Causes of child labor:
effects of child labor:
efforts of government:
efforts of ngos
efforts of trade union
Conclusion:
Suggestions:

Introduction:
Children are the greatest gift to humanity and Childhood is an
important and impressionable stage of human development as it
holds the potential to the future development of any society. They are
the most beautiful and purest creation of God. They are innocent both
inwardly and outwardly. No doubt, they are the beauty of this world.
Early in the morning when the children put on different kinds of
clothes and begin to go to schools for the sake of knowledge, we feel

a specific kind of joy through their innocence. But there are also other
children, those who cannot go to schools due to financial problems,
they only watch others go to schools and can merely wish to seek
knowledge. It is due to many difficulties; desperate conditions that
they face in life. Having been forced to kill their aspirations, dreams
and other wishes, they are pressed to earn a living for themselves
and for their families. It is also a fact that there are many children
who play a key role in sustaining the economically life of their family
without which, their families would not be able to make ends meet.
These are also part of our society who has forgotten the pleasures of
their childhood. When a child in addition to getting education, earns
his livelihood, this act of earning a livelihood is called as child Labor.
Today Pakistan is facing a lot of social problems but some are very
common in Pakistan, which are destroying our society and also
economy of Pakistan. Like child labor. It is also a global issue. It is one
of the most common problems of Asia including Pakistan.
WHAT IS CHILD LABOR?
DEFINITION:
The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines child Labor as:
When a child is working during early age
He overworks or gives over time to Labor
He works due to the psychologically, socially, and materialistic
pressure
He becomes ready to Labor on a very low pay.
United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
defines child" as anyone below the age of 18, and "child Labor" as
some type of work performed by children below age 18.

Child labor refers to employment of children at regular and sustained

level. This practice is considered as illegal in many countries. In these
practices children below the age of 15 are force to work by other
people. The stipulated age varies from country to country and
government to government. Child labor is the work for children that
harms them or exploit them in some way physically and mentality or
by blocking access to education. The work that has the potential to
deprive children of their childhood, their dignity and is also harmful
for their physical, moral and mental development and it interferes
with their education either by not allowing them to attend school,
leaving school prematurely i.e., without compulsory education or
forcing them to combine school attendance with heavy work.

GLOBAL ISSUE:
The problem of child labor has moved from a matter of regional and
national concern to one of international debate and possible global
persuasion and policy intervention. In order to eliminate this
enormous problem of our times, it is important to start with a proper
theoretical and empirical understanding of the phenomenon.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) launched the first
World Day against Child Labor in 2002 as a way to highlight the
plight of these children. The day, which is observed on June 12th, is
intended to serve as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement
against child labor, reflected in the huge number of ratifications of
ILO Convention No. 182 on the worst forms of child labor and
ILO Convention No. 138 on the minimum age for employment.
The World Day against Child Labor provides an opportunity to gain
further support of individual governments and that of the ILO social
partners, civil society and others, including schools, youth and

women's groups as well as the media, in the campaign against child

labor.

STATISTICS OF CHILD LABOR IN PAKISTAN:

Children

Age

Working

10-14 years

Attending school

5-14 years

Work+ school

10-14 years

Sector Distribution of the Child Labor:

Children in Pakistan are engaged in the worst forms of Child labor
including bonded labor, primarily in dangerous forms of agriculture.
Children working in agriculture may use dangerous tools, carry heavy
loads, and apply harmful pesticides. Children also work in hazardous
manufacturing activities. In factories, children are susceptible to
industrial accidents. Children who produce glass bangles are exposed
to high temperatures and toxic chemicals and suffer from severe joint
pain and lung problems. There is limited evidence that children
weave cloth using power looms. Children working with power looms
suffer respiratory disease, work long hours, and face physical and
sexual abuse. In the carpet weaving industry children also work long
hours and are vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse. Some children
are found working in hazardous conditions in the informal
construction, transport, leather tanning, and surgical instrument
industries. Although evidence is limited, children are reportedly
involved in deep-sea fishing. While tanning leather, children are

exposed to toxic chemicals and dyes and often contract respiratory

diseases and sustain chemical burns. Such work also makes them
susceptible to eye and lung diseases.
Children in urban areas are often employed as domestic servants and
may be subjected to extreme abuse. Reports indicate that some child
domestic servants have even been killed by their employers.

sector distribution of child labor

7%

agricultural

15%

others
services

3%

manufacturing
76%

CAUSES OF CHILD LABOR:

The major reason is poverty and overpopulation. These two go
hand in hand. Poor families tend to have more children, and
when earnings of a sole person do not suffice, young children are

forced to take up jobs wherever they can. Having too many

members puts a financial burden on poverty-stricken families,
and parents are compelled to send their children to work to get
extra income.
Lack of education among the poorer sections of society is also a
leading cause for children to start working early. Ignorant and
illiterate people do not think twice about engaging their children
in manual labor, since they are not aware of the harmful physical
and mental aspects that can inflict on the child. Being poor, they
cannot afford a decent education for the children, nor do they
understand the importance of primary education in children's
lives.
In many developing nations, textile and garment manufacturers
use children to make garments. Factory owners cut back
production costs by employing children rather than adults, who
are in turn paid a lot less and forced to work a lot more. Also,
there is no risk of these young laborers coming up against the
factory owners by forming unions because they are unaware of
their rights, and hence this practice flourishes on a large-scale.
Even though countries have laws in place, these are not being
implemented, leading to further exploitation of innocent children.
The government and the society have seen an increase in child
workers in developing and under-developed countries.
In some countries, women are denied formal education and are
brought up only to perform household chores since a very young
age. Such a society believes that an educated woman will not fit
into the traditional role of a home maker and bear children. This
notion fuels child labor and young girls thus get pushed into
doing manual house work from an early age.
Families migrating from rural to urban areas in search of better
prospects often end up pushing their children to take up odd,

menial jobs. This happens due to lack of proper educational

resources in the rural areas, as a result of which these people do
not find jobs in cities. So to make ends meet, children bear the
brunt while the adults are left unemployed.
In villages, people under heavy debt "sell off" their children for a
small amount of money or to repay the outstanding amount. This
has given rise to the practice of bonded child labor. As a result,
children are thrust into doing very hard work for long durations of
time that could well extend into their adulthood, till their family is
free from the debt.
Children born out of wedlock, children with no parents and
relatives, often do not find anyone to support them. Thus they
are forced to work for their own living.
More than 130 countries have signed an international convention
saying that children may not work full-time before 14 or 15 years
of age. However, in some of the countries concerned, laws on
this are confusing or vague and not enforced.

Effects of CHILD LABOR:

Physical injuries and mutilations are caused by badly maintained
machinery on farms and in factories, machete accidents in
plantations, and any number of hazards encountered in industries
such as mining, ceramics and fireworks manufacture. Growth
deficiency is prevalent among working children, who tend to be
shorter and lighter than other children; these deficiencies also impact
on their adult life. Long-term health problems such as respiratory
disease, asbestosis and a variety of cancers, are common in countries
where children are forced to work with dangerous chemicals HIV/AIDS
and other sexually transmitted: Diseases are rife among the one
million children forced into prostitution every year; pregnancy, drug

addiction and mental illness are also common among child

prostitutes. Exhaustion and malnutrition are a result of
underdeveloped children performing heavy manual labor, working
long hours in unbearable conditions and not earning enough to feed
themselves adequately

Efforts by Government of Pakistan

Developing National Policy and Plan of Action for the elimination
of child labor.
Activating Media in Combating Child Labor
Targeting the Worst Forms of Child Labor through Law
Enforcement.
Targeting the Worst Forms of Child Labor through Community
Development Carrying out National Survey on Child Labor
Situation in Pakistan
Collecting Information on specific Target Groups under the Worst
Forms of Child Labor.

Efforts of NGOs
Non-formal Education and skills Enhancement Programs
Awareness Raising and pre-vocational training programs for the
Elimination of child labor in commercial agriculture
Development of a Training Manual for Master Trainers involved in
Child Labor Programs.

 Crisis Intervention and Social/Legal Support Programs for

Working Children
Child Labor Information, Awareness and rehabilitation program.
Program for Training and Education of Carpet Weaving Children
Mobilizing Multi-sector support against child labor.
Rehabilitation and Prevention Programs for the children working
in Leather Tanneries.
Training IPEC Partners in Development, Monitoring and
Evaluation of Child Labor Projects.

EFFORTS OF TRADE UNIONS

Child Labor Awareness Rising among Workers.
Awareness rising on the Elimination of Child Labor in interior
Sindh.
Non-formal education and awareness program for the children
working in textile, garments and leather centers
Developing Children withdrawn from work into Skilled Labor
Force for the Future.
Intensifying Efforts towards Elimination of Child Labor and
Restoration/Protection of their Rights including the Right to
Education.

Conclusion:
The children are working as a labor in school going age for the
survival of their families and to full fill the basic necessities. People
dont know the importance of education. Thats why most of children
remain illiterate. It is not just responsibility of government we are also

responsible for that to. Child labors are working not the choice of their
own. They are the victims of their circumstances and we are taking
benefit of their compulsions. At last we can say that the future of a
community is in the well being of its children. It is urgently required
by implementing the international regulation for prohibition of child
labor to ensure that they are given opportunities for healthy normal
and happy growth of childs mental physical, educational and spiritual
development. So if the governments of those countries where child
labor is a curse take necessary step to implement the international
regulation for prohibition of child labor properly then we can hope
that this regulation play a successful part to demolish the child labor
from the world and from the humanity.

Suggestion:
Area

Suggested Actions

Year(s) Action
Recommended

Laws and
Regulations

Establish a minimum age for employment.

2009, 2010, 2011,

2012

Create comprehensive prohibitions against additional specific

hazardous activities and clearly establish a minimum age for
hazardous work at 18.

2009, 2010, 2011,

2012

Enact laws to provide protections for child domestic servants

and children working on the streets.

2011, 2012

Adopt amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code to clearly

criminalize child pornography and internal child trafficking.

2011, 2012

Ensure that the response to the worst forms of child labor can
be coordinated at both the regional and national levels.

2011, 2012

Revise the self-declaration labor monitoring system in Punjab

to require employers to post reports on workplace safety,
health, and wages and thereby be subject to inspection.

2010, 2011, 2012

Allow labor inspectors to conduct inspections at any time,

without notice, including within the first year of an enterprises
establishment and within agricultural settings.

2011, 2012

Provide adequate funding for training to enable investigators to

combat the worst forms of child labor.

2010, 2011, 2012

Create mechanisms that enable consistent enforcement of

child labor laws.

2011, 2012

Ensure that child victims of the worst forms of child labor are
not treated as criminals.

2011, 2012

Collect and publish enforcement data for child labor violations

and criminal violation of child trafficking laws.

2010, 2011, 2012

Policies

Conduct sectoral surveys on areas with a high incidence of

child labor to increase the knowledge base in these areas and
inform policy and program planning.

2009, 2010, 2011,

2012

Social Programs

Expand government programs to reach a larger number of

bonded child laborers.

2009, 2010, 2011,

2012

Expand education programs to provide free and compulsory

education as required in the Right to Free and Compulsory
Education Act.

2011, 2012

Implement programs to raise awareness and provide

assistance to children used by non-state militant groups to
engage in armed conflict.

2011, 2012

Increase the size and scope of government programs to reach

children working in the worst forms of child labor including
work in domestic service.

2009, 2010, 2011,

2012

Coordination
and
Enforcement

REFRENCES:

http://www.nation.com.pk/national/16-Jun-2013/child-labourers-exceed-12m-in-pakistan
http://www.unicef.org/pakistan/media_7071.htm
http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr/child_labor/about/ending.html
http://www.labournews.net/lnv2/index.php?
option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=10&Itemid=17
http://www.paycheck.pk/main/labour-laws/fair-treatment/child-labour