Child Labour, a scar in our society

Child Labour

Child labour is a vital and alarming problem in South Asia. Developing countries like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are facing this problem. To abolish this social evil from the root, time has already, come. The children must be given their food, clothing, shelter and schooling up to a certain standard by his or her parents to ensure his or her physical and mental growth. In complete contrast to it, the children below sixteen are in some cases are employed as laborers in mills, mines, hotels, restaurants, tea stalls motor garages etc.

There are many causes behind the employment of children as laborers. The main factor is the poverty of the parents. Not being able to pay for education and the ugliness of the family forced a parent to employ his child. Their children are made to understand that if they do not work and earn thereby, they will simply starve to death.

The illiteracy of the parents of the child laborers is also responsible for this evil. The opportunism of the employers is also an important factor. The child laborers are made to work longer than able-body of adults, but they are given lesser pay. The additional benefit with these child laborers is that they will never attach themselves with any union whatsoever.

Thus, the result of all these the factory owner will find the cost of production coming down and consequently the amount of profit going upwards. The indifference of the governments of the respective countries and the lack of social awareness of the people are also important factors behind the problem of child labor.

Whatever be the causes, it destroys the happiness and innocence of childhood. Moreover, it keeps them away from the light of education and thus makes them prone to exploitation. They are likely to obstruct the development of the nation in future since they are the future citizens of the nations.

The Governments of several countries have tried time and again to abolish the system of child labor. For example, The Children Act, 1933 in India bans the engagement of children in work in return of wages. The Employment of Children Act, 1938 prohibits the employment of child laborers in works like carpet weaving, and ‘bidi’ making.

The prohibition of child laborers is also the right against exploitation, as mentioned in the Indian Constitution. But, mere ban is not only the solution of this problem. The economic condition of the families of the poor has to be improved. The basic principle of ‘Sarba Siksha Mission’ has to be fully transformed to reality.

Finally, people should be made aware of this evil by arranging mass awareness programs. The ILO (International Labor Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. In 1992, the ILO's International Child Labor Elimination Program (IPEC) was launched. Currently, this program is running in 70 countries. In 1997, the ILO unanimously adopted the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights in the Workplace. Through this, the ILO has expressed its firm commitment to the elimination of child labor along with policy and rights in the workplace.

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