Child labour data key to intervention strategies

Rights organisations express fears over more children being pushed into labour

ISLAMABAD: Deficient and conflicting legislation on child labour and rights is the main hurdle to curbing this practice while the poor implementation of existing laws by local authorities further worsens the situation with children not only continuing to suffer from poverty but also torture. The absence of updated data makes it hard to implement any strategies.

This was stated by speakers during a webinar on ‘Covid-19 and Child Labour: the nexus of poverty, population and food security’ on Friday to commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL). The webinar had been organised by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and DTN.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director-Pakistan Ingrid Christensen warned that as a result of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, more than two million more children will be pushed into child labour in Pakistan as the economy collapses. There is a strong link between child labour and socio-economic conditions, Christensen said, adding that to curb child labour, there is a need to improve the rural economy and working conditions of the daily wagers and other marginalized communities through long-term and sustainable partnerships between development partners and the governments.

To gather updated data, she said a survey was launched last year with Unicef Pakistan. However, with the pandemic, it may not complete in time.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2020.