Eradicating child labour

Letter September 01, 2015
Orphans and other deserving children must be helped financially on a long-term basis

RAWALPINDI: Child labour is a serious issue in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries. Labour is defined as physical or mental work, specifically of the arduous kind. Pakistan, unfortunately, is among those countries where child labour is at its peak. Children being used to perform tasks beyond their capabilities, should be considered an act of brutality. Child labour should be considered a crime and its perpetrators must be penalised. Many foreign and local NGOs are working for the elimination of child labour in the country, but the mafias behind the illicit activities are stronger than the efforts of the few NGOs working for good will. Children, who are the future of our country, are being prepped for the destruction of their futures. We see children, who should have books in their hands, holding wipers to clean windshields, instead.

There is a desperate need to put an end to child labour. Awareness must be raised and the attention of parents ought to be diverted towards educating their children. Child labour laws should be strictly put into practice. In addition, the education system of the country must be reshaped and restructured according to national development goals. Orphans and other deserving children must be helped financially on a long-term basis. It is also essential that the political, economic and social systems of the country are redesigned to support the well-being of the layman, boost good governance and thereby put an end to exploitative thinking. The agreement that has recently been approved by Pakistan, Norway and the International Labour Organisation to eradicate child labour, must be given emphasis and we hope that our leaders put this pact into practice, using all the means at their disposal.

Barira Mehmood

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd,  2015.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.