Children’s rights: Coalition of NGOs demands ban on child domestic help

The statement says that the Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Ordinance was a positive move

LAHORE: Child Rights Movement (CRM) Punjab, a coalition of 60 NGOs working for children’s rights in the Punjab, issued a statement on Monday demanding that the government declare employment of children as domestic help illegal.

The statement was issued by Sana Khawaja, the CRM coordinator. It says that the CRM welcomed legislation on the ban on employment of children and regularisation of employment of adolescents between the ages 15 and 18.

The statement said that the Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Ordinance was a positive move. “It shows that the government is willing to take up issues related to labour and the exploitation and abuse of children.”

Khawaja said that the CRM Punjab believed that child domestic labour was a dangerous trade in which hundreds of children had been reported tortured, hurt and even killed by their employers but the policy makers had not shown appropriate concern. “It is now time to ban it,” the statement said.

Khawaja urged the government to ban domestic labour below the age of 18 years.

“The ban will ensure that children enjoyed the rights related to their survival, development and protection.”

The statement said the CRM expected the government to ratify ILO’s Convention 189 pertaining to the rights of domestic workers.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2016.