1. HITEC University Taxila
BS Electrical Engineering (Power)
Section ‘C’
Pakistan Studies (HS-101)
Assignment No. 1
Child Labour in Pakistan
Assignment Submitted To Madam Zahida Jabeen
Dated: 08-11-2013
2. GROUP INFORMATION
i
Group Leader:
Waqas Javid 13-EE(P)-088
Members:
Hassan Talal 13-EE(P)-032
Janees Khan 13-EE(P)-034
Ahmed Rehman 13-EE(P)-0
Abdullah Hassan 13-EE(P)-040
Muhib Ur Rehman 13-EE(P)-006
Hashim Zaman Khan 13-EE(P)-096
M.Akifullah 13-EE(P)-042
4. 1
INTRODUCTION
Today Pakistan is facing a lot of social problems but some are very common in Pakistan, which
are destroying our society and also economy of Pakistan .Like child labor, poverty, illiteracy,
population growth, terrorism, smuggling, drug abuse etc .The topic which I have selected is child
labour.It is a global issue .Child labor is one of the most common problems in Asia and also in Pakistan.
Pakistan is still among the top ten countries with the child labor issues, as the world observes
International Day against Child Labor.
What is a Child Labour?
The Term “Child Labour” is defined as work that
deprives children of their childhood, their
potential and dignity and that is harmful to their
physical and mental development. It May Refers to work that is mentally, physically, socialy or
morally dangerous and harmful to children And depriving them of the opportunity to attend
school.
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) defines:
“child” as anyone below the age of 18, and “child Labour” as some type of work performed by
children below age 18. (UNICEF)
The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines child Labour as:
1- when a child is working during early age
2- he overworks or gives over time to Labour
3- he works due to the psychologically, socially, and materialistic pressure
4- he becomes ready to Labour on a very low pay.
5. 2
Difference betweenChild Labour and Child Work
Children Participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or
interfere with their schooling is generally regarded as being something positive. This includes
activities such as helping their parents around the home, assisting in a family business or earning
pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays.
Types of child labour
1. Child Labour in Surgical Industry
2. Child Labour in Rag Picking Business
3. Child Labour in Tanneries
4. Child Labour in Deep Fishing Industry
5. Child Labour in Domestic Service
6. Child Labour in Begging Profession
7. Child Labour on the Streets
8. Child Labour in Carpet Industry
9. Child Labour in Glass Bangle Industry
CAUSES
Children start work when they are too young, or take on work that is hazardous, for many
reasons. Children in developing countries do so because they and their families need the extra
income. Indeed, many end up working unpaid for their employers in exchange for their board
and lodging. In contrast, children in industrialized countries, seek work for quite different
reasons, usually to establish financial independence from their parents. Here we focus on
children who are driven into the world of work by poverty. However, even for poor families
there are decisions to make about what work children should take on. Parents rarely wish to
expose their children to danger, but may see no alternative. All too often, both parents and young
people are unaware of the risks involved.
6. 3
The main causes or reasons for creating child labor are:
OVER POPULATION:
Most of the Asian and African countries are overpopulated. Due to limited resources and more
mouths to feed, Children are employed in various forms of work.
ILLITERACY:
Illiterate parents do not realize the need for a proper physical, emotional and cognitive
development of a child. As they are uneducated, they do not realize the importance of education
for their children.
POVERTY:
Many a time poverty forces parents to send their children to hazardous jobs. Although they know
it is wrong, they have no other alternative as they need the money.
URBANIZATION:
The Industrial Revolution has its own negative side. Many a time MNC's and export industries in
the developing world employ while workers, particularly in the garment industry.
UNEMPLOYMENT OF ELDERS:
Elders often find it difficult to get jobs. The industrialists and factory owners find it profitable to
employ children. This is so because they can pay less and extract more work. They will also not
create union problem.
ORPHANS:
Children born out of wedlock, children with no parents and relatives, often do not find anyone to
support them. Thus they are forced to work for their own living.
WILLINGNESS TO EXPLOIT CHILDREN:
7. 4
This is at the root of the problem Even if a family is very poor; the incidence of child labor will
be very low unless there are people willing to exploit these children.
FAMILY BACKGROUND:
Families break down for many reasons, leaving the household short of income. Sometimes
divorce leaves one parent looking after more children than she or he can afford to feed. Divorce
is sometimes brought about by domestic violence, which also directly drives children to leave
home when they are still young. The death of either parent precipitates economic disaster for
many households. Families also lose their livelihood as a result of natural disasters and human
crises that leave people destitute and force children to start earning.
INADEQUATE LAWS:
More than 130 countries have signed an international convention saying that children may not
work full-time before 14 or 15 years of age. However, in some of the countries concerned, laws
on this are confusing or vague and not enforced. There are particular difficulties when laws are
inconsistent – for example, one dictating that children must remain in school until they are 12,
while another decrees that they may not start work until 14: the inconsistency is almost bound to
precipitate children into the labour market before they reach the legal minimum age
POOR INFRASTRUCTURE:
Another factor is the practical difficulty of establishing a child’s actual age in countries where
the infrastructure may not be in place for e.g. systematic birth registration. This can disadvantage
children in many ways – law enforcers are hampered because they do not have the means to
absolutely establish the ages of e.g. teenagers, and, without appropriate documentation, young
people may also be denied access to state services such as schools.
THE ROLE OF EDUCATION:
Children who receive little or no school education miss out on the knowledge that can create
options for them later in life. Without it, they make less contribution as adults and are more
exposed to exploitation and abuse. Not attending school is consequently both a cause and effect
of child labour. The shortcomings of existing school systems remain a major factor that “pushes”
8. 5
children on to the labour market when they are too young. Sending children to school does not
come without a cost. In many countries, parents still pay a fee for their children to attend primary
school, as well as buying books and providing a school uniform. For a poor family these are
significant costs, alongside the lack of income for the household while a child is at school.
EFFECTS
There are very bad effects of child labor for our society, which forces some children to steal
things from others in order to satisfy their daily living. Many small girls are even made to
indulge in prostitution. A recent case of child labor came into picture where a 10 year old kid
was beaten to death because the innocent kid was slow at things. The cruel owner went angry
and threw the child across the room resulting in the most extreme punishments. It was not only
the cruel owner who was at the fault, but the parents of the child were also equally involved in
this incident. Some other effects are:
1) Child labor deprives a child of a proper childhood.
2) He suffers physical and mental torture.
3) 3. He becomes mentally and emotionally mature too fast which is a dangerous
sign.
4) Child labor creates and perpetuates poverty.
5) It condemns the child to a life of unskilled, badly
paid work.
6) Ultimately this leads to child labor with each
generation.
7) Child labor deprives a child of a proper childhood.
8) He suffers physical and mental torture.
9) He becomes mentally and emotionally mature too
fast which is a dangerous sign.
10) Child labor creates and perpetuates poverty.
11) It condemns the child to a life of unskilled, badly paid work.
9. 6
SOLUTION
The present government in Pakistan has made elementary education compulsory. Along with
this, the government has distributed free books in primary schools so that parents, who cannot
afford their children’s school expenses, send their children to schools. The major point is that
this decision must be acted upon at all levels. There is strict need to stop child Labour in this
country. Awareness must be raised and the attention of parents ought to be diverted to the
education of their children. Child Labour Laws should be put into practice strictly.
Example:
Nike has been accused of using child labor in the production of its soccer balls in Pakistan.
While Pakistan has laws against child labour.
For the better eradication of this problem is the government support. Because government should
arranged such steps types of ads should be shown on TV for the awareness of this problem. If we
adopted such little steps than may be a on international level through which this type of curse
could be removed or minimized. But, this is not only the government responsibility, we as a
citizen should forward our steps for elimination of this problem. We should arrange seminars on
child labor; different speeches can play a vital role in this regard. And moreover, media can play
a very important role for this. Different small part of this curse could be eliminated.
In addition, the educational system of the country-must be reshaped and restructured according
to national development goals. The orphans and other deserving children must be helped
financially on a prolonged basis. It is also essential to eliminate child Labour from the country,
that the political, economical and social system of the country are need to be reshaped and such
steps taken that make child Labour in this country a crime. They should bring on the well-being
of a lay man, good governance and end to exploitative thinking. If we succeed to act upon these
principles, our country can easily get rid of this problem i.e. child Labour. The agreement that
has recently been approved by Pakistan, Norway and ILO to eradicate child Labour must be
given importance and we hope that our rulers must put this agreement into practice using all
means at their disposal.
10. 7
CONCLUSION
As we all know that child labor is a major problem in all over the world today. It is not only
prevailing in developing countries but also it is a cursed in developed countries. If we talk about
Pakistan then the child under the age of 15 or may be less is engaged in labor work. The main
problem for this is the lack of education and lower income level of the people.
No doubt, child labor in United States also a dynamic problem but if we compare it with other
countries it is less than those. The main reason for flourishing the child labor in the Pakistan is
the instability of political environment. The numbers of family members are more than the
income level.
In a vivid, we can say child labor is a complex problem which demands a range of solutions.
There is no better way to prevent child Labor than to make education compulsory. The West
understood this a long time ago. Laws were enacted very early to secure continued education for
working children; and now they have gone a step forward, and required completion of at least the
preliminary education of the child before he or she starts work. Better solutions should be
adopted for its removal otherwise it will soon lick the pillars of the world.
REFERENCES
http://www.hamariweb.com/articles/article.aspx?id=91
LabourwatchPakistan.com
Thenews.com.pk
Labournews.net
ilo.org
