Statistics paint alarming child labour picture

Alarming statistics have once again exposed the inability of both federal and provincial governments to effectively eliminate child labour, with laws falling short of addressing the pressing issue that persists despite recent crackdowns.

According to the documents seen by The Express Tribune, more than 700,000 children between the ages of 10 and 14 are subjected to labour in brick kilns and the agriculture sector across the country.
Of the total workforce of over 71 million children engaged in various sectors nationwide, a staggering 26 million are employed in agriculture and brick kilns.

The disturbing statistics reveal that amid the claims and assurances by government bodies and institutions to curb child labour, the ground reality tells a different story.

Data shared by the Federal Bureau of Statistics with the Senate Secretariat outlines the substantial workforce in the agriculture sector, totalling over 2.51 million workers, including 1.47 million men and 1.04 million women.

Moreover, approximately 833,000 labourers—689,000 men and 144,000 women—are employed in brick kilns.
Over 693,000 children between the ages of 10 and 14 are engaged in forced labour within the agriculture sector, while 24,478 children are compelled to work in brick kilns, according to the report.

Disturbingly, over 399,000 girls and 294,000 boys are toiling in the fields.

In contrast, 14,500 boys and 10,000 girls are subjected to labour in brick kilns.

Despite provincial legislation prohibiting child labour and setting age limits, the numbers remain alarming: 436,000 in Punjab, 113,000 in Sindh, 90,000 in Balochistan, and over 54,000 children in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are forced to work in the agriculture sector.

Moreover, the document points out that over 14.7 million boys and girls above the age of 15 are involved in agriculture, while 648,000 children are working in brick kilns nationwide.

In K-P, 2.934 million children above 15 years of age are engaged in agriculture, with 76,500 working in brick kilns.

Sindh accounts for 1.103 million boys and girls in the agriculture sector, while Balochistan reports 3,251 children working in agriculture and over 81,000 in brick kilns.