There is an abundance of laws to tackle the menace of child labour but they are unfortunately ignored
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan ranks third among the countries with the highest percentage of child labour. About 3.3 million children are confined to child labour in our country and remain deprived of their childhood, health and education. Their harsh reality is that they are destined to a life of poverty. They know that in such a society they will never amount to much.
Children in Pakistan are engaged in the worst forms of child labour including forced domestic work and bonded labour in brick kilns factories, agriculture sectors, and urban households. The International Labour Organisation suggests that poverty is the greatest single cause behind child labour. Unfortunately, with the passage of time, forced child labour has severely aggravated in our country since there is limited accountability. The ratio is higher in industrial cities like Karachi, Islamabad, Sialkot, Rawalpindi and Lahore. Children are forced to work in completely unregulated conditions without adequate food, wages or rest. They are also constantly subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
There is an abundance of laws to tackle the menace of child labour but they are unfortunately ignored. Government authorities and all civil society organisations need to work in tandem to free children bonded in labour under abysmal conditions. They need to be rescued from exploitive working conditions and be supported with adequate education.
Maryum Sardar
Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2020.
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