15,000 child workers toil in Balochistan

Over 15,000 underage children in Balochistan are working at the construction sites, coal mines, garbage collection, and automobiles workshops.

President All Pakistan Labour Federation Sultan Muhammad on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour said that these children were either orphans or belonged to the poor families who are compelled to work to support their families.

He said the provincial government should pay attention to the issue and try to get them enrolled in educational institutions instead of letting them do laborious jobs.

Sultan suggested that the government should devise a social security programme to provide financial assistance to the poor so that they send their children to schools.

He said underage labour affected the children mentally, physically and socially.

An official of the provincial government said that the Balochistan government has taken several measures to eliminate child labour in the province and to ensure education to every child up to16 years of age.

The provincial government would initiate action to end underage labour and the government would ensure strict implementation of law in that regard, he maintained. He said strict action against the violators of child rights would be taken.

He said the labour department officials in collaboration with police were already raiding workplaces, such as markets, workshops, factories and mines, and taking action against the owners if any child was found working there.

The official said they would also launch an awareness campaign across the province to sensitize the parents to send their children to schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2022.