INTRODUCTION:
Child labour refers to
employment that deprives children of their childhood or makes them vulnerable
to exploitation, especially when there is no specific age limit for working in
the industry or profession. Child labour is a common practice in many
countries. It is cruel, inhumane and should be banned by international law.
Child labour is a violation of basic human rights. Every child deserves a
childhood, to be a child. Child labour takes that away by preying on their
innocence and turning it in to an instrument of financial success. The practice
of child labour has both economic and psychological implications and may leave
children vulnerable to diseases, poor physical health and increased debt before
they reach adulthood. Child labour is an alarming social problem that can not
be ignored. In fact, it has become so widespread that many countries have
enacted laws to protect children from exploitation in the work place.
Child labour is forced or slave
labour performed by children. The work may result in injury and exploitation, a
form of contemporary slavery that exists both within and outside of child labour
laws. Despite widespread perceptions that the majority of child workers are in
South Asia, the majority of child labour is observed in Africa and particularly
Sub-Saharan Africa. Child labour makes children to be used for the purpose of
work, often below what they would be permitted to do in an open market. This
can take many forms, from performing low paid or semi skilled jobs in factories
and domestic settings to working as street vendors, servants and beggars. Child
labour has been an issue around the world for hundreds of years, with some of
the earliest proponents including Aristotle and Confucius.
Child labour is any work that
deprives a child of his childhood. Malnutrition and lack of access to education
are the most common impacts of child labour. Child labour corresponds with the
exploitative usage of children. As they are more vulnerable than adults to
certain forms of exploitation, they are more likely to be involved in various
projects that can jeopardize their development and lead to severe health risk.
Child labour is the exploitation of children in any form of labour and is
defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, potential and
dignity. Child Labour is illegal in most nations. We are aware that child labour
still exists but we pledge to reject it until it is stamped out.
Child labour is an act or
practice whereby people engage in work that is harmful to the health, safety or
morals of children. Through this, they are kept in poverty and ignorance as
they negatively affect their future in society. Because of these reasons, it has
been taken by various organizations as a priority to eradicate this practice as
it can affect not just children but also the entire family. Child labour is one
of the world's major human rights issues. Child labour has been present in all
societies from past to present. It has been reported in all parts of the world,
including rural regions and urban areas, as well as within both rich and poor
families.
MEANING
OF CHILD LABOUR:
Child labour refers to work
which is done by a person under the age of 18 in any form of work according to
International Labour Organization (ILO). This includes all forms of forced or
mandatory labour. Child labour has increased significantly over the past decade
and is concentrated in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Oceania. The effect on
economic growth can be disastrous: a lower income per capita means less future
wealth accumulation, which can hamper economic development and make countries
poorer over time. Child labour includes work on the street, doing home work for
the family, working in factories or mines, as domestic servants and working in
entertainment industries. Young people's limited education and employment
opportunities make them vulnerable to exploitation by adults. The problem of
child labour is widespread across the world but developed countries are guilty
as well although to a lesser degree, as most of these countries prohibit
children below a certain age to work. There are many factors that contribute to
the emergence of this problem. Child labour hurts workers, families,
communities and economies.
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND:
Child labour has been a major
issue since the dawn of time. Children have been working since the beginning of
civilization and many in the modern world still depend on their work as young
adults. Child labour has a long history dating back to ancient Egypt. Child
labour has been practiced for thousands of years. Different cultures had
different ideas about the age at which people could begin working and the type
of work they were allowed to do. People with different religions also had
different views on how long children should be allowed to work before they were
no longer considered helpful.
Child labour is one of the
oldest practices in the history of mankind. Children have been working in the
fields of their parents ever since we evolved as a species. The practice of
having children work is normal but unfortunately there are many negative
consequences to child labour that impact the child, their family and even
society. Child labour has existed in our society for many years and is still
present today in various forms. In the age of jacuzzis, game consoles and 24/7
cable TV, it's easy to forget that children were once a part of the work force.
In centuries past, child labour was a common and accepted phenomenon across the
world. It's important to understand its
causes and effects as we struggle against it.
CHILD
LABOUR STATISTICS:
Child labour is the practice of
hiring or recruiting children for work, usually in the form of factory work and
domestic services. It takes place mostly in developing countries located in
Africa, Asia, Latin America and in some countries of Eastern Europe. Child
labour isn't anything new. So why pay attention to it now? Because the
statistics are much appalling. According to data from UNICEF, there are
currently around 168 million children out of school – about half of them aged
12-14 and 235 million children aged 5-17 are engaged in child labour! The
number of child labourers is estimated to be 213 million world wide. Children
and adolescents are involved in the worst forms of child labour in the work
force and in domestic service.
ADVERSE
EFFECTS OF CHILD LABOUR?:
Child labour has affected both
children and society including its economic impact on families, childhood lost
due to disease & hunger, environmental impact on children and adults who
work at hazardous conditions or toxic environments, sexual exploitation of
minors by adults, future education prospects for these children etc. Child
labour may cause several harmful health effects. Child labour is associated
with several negative health effects including mental health problems, stunted
development, reduced earning potential in adulthood and shortened lifespan. It
may also lead to many serious issues viz. malnutrition as well as stunted
growth. Health experts warn that excessive work and school workloads,
especially for children, can cause serious health problems. Child labour has a
number of adverse effects on children's lives including lower educational
achievement, decreased physical and emotional well being, increased risk of
poverty & famine, increased susceptibility to disease and violence,
psychological consequences like depression and posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) and life long cognitive effects on ability to learn.
REASONS
OF CHILD LABOUR:
Child labour is often linked to
poverty as many families rely on their children as a source of income. Children
work for different reasons such as, to help with their family's income, as an
alternative to staying at home or as part of a cultural practice. They are
often forced to drop out of school to be employed or have no choice but to take
part in services such as domestic work, trading and prostitution. Child labour
is a severe form of exploitation when its basic aim is the economic gain of the
adult(s). Child labour persists in many forms owing to social inequalities,
gender discrimination, lack of access to education, poverty and instability. Inevitably, children
are drawn in to the worst of child labour.
World wide, many children are
forced to work in mines, fields and plantations. Children labouring in the
developing countries often labour under dangerous or unhealthy conditions. Millions
of children suffer the worst forms of child labour in the markets, streets and
farms. The practice of corporations employing labour-intensive processes, such
as horticulture, tobacco growing and cotton picking, is frequently cited as an
example of early child labour. In most developing countries, the family’s
economic circumstances have a significant influence on the decision whether to
enter the work force or not.
HOW
TO ELIMINATE CHILD LABOUR?:
Child labour is a cruel reality
that must be addressed in developing countries around the globe. One of the
greatest challenges is creating opportunities for young people to stay in
school rather than moving out of their homes and working as hard as they can,
simply to make a living. Child labour is a constant world wide problem,
particularly in areas where children are not typically allowed to go outside on
their own. Child labour is everyone’s concern. However, there are many ways to
reduce it but one can not overlook the necessity of starting with the education
of children at their early ages. Education is the key to solving global poverty
and child labour. In addition to the economic benefits of reducing child
labour, there are a number of other benefits as well. For instance, reducing
child labour can be very effective in decreasing poverty, which is one of the
biggest causes of child labour in developing countries. Also, by reducing child
labour, you can improve the general health and education conditions of
children.
There are many ways to
eliminate child labour. One of them is by setting a minimum age to work and
setting higher age limits for sensitive jobs. Another option could be to give
children the best education available, which includes giving them free time to
play safe games or engage in other activities such as going to school or taking
care of siblings. If a country wants to abolish child labour completely, it is
important that legislation does not discriminate against older workers and
employers stop knowingly hiring children under the legal working age. It is
imperative that strict measures are implemented and that solutions are targeted
specifically at the problem (such as children working in sweet shops). Ensuring
that children are kept out of work is everyone's responsibility. Legislation,
government policy and private sector initiatives all play an important role in
achieving this. Finally, by eliminating child labour, you reduce theft and
violence against children.
