Sadique, a wealthy man, has hired 9-year-old Nadeem as an apprentice weaver, arguing that Nadeem will learn more practical skills and earn higher pay over time. However, Sadique primarily hires young children because they are cheap labor. Nadeem's father Mirza, a brick worker, is extremely poor and supports a family of five, forcing him to allow Nadeem to work long hours under Sadique's employment. Poverty condemns many children in the region to an endless cycle of child labor without education or financial freedom.

1. Life story: Nadeem
Nadeem is a 9 year old boy who works as an apprentice weaver for a wealthy man named
Sadique. Nadeem's father is Mirza, a 30 year old brick worker. Sadique is describing the
"advantages" his son will "enjoy" in his job position. "I've admired your boy for several
months,“ Sadique says. "Nadeem is bright and ambitious. He will learn far more practical
skills in six months at the loom than he would in six years of school. He will be taught by
experienced craftsmen, and his pay will rise as his skills improve. Have no doubt, your son
will be thankful for the opportunity you have given him, and the Lord will bless you for
looking so well after your own."
Sadique most aggressively hires 7-10 year old children because they are "the most energetic
and dexterous at this stage of development and are very obedient." Sadique says that the boys
would work all day and night if he asked. But, when pressed, Sadique says that he hires them
first and foremost because he can save a lot of money.
Three boys who produce first class rugs would receive the same salary as a second-class adult
weaver. The low cost of his labour gives Sadique a significant edge over all of his competitors
in countries where child labour laws are enforced. They greatly undersell their competitors,
and, not surprisingly, American and European consumers are attracted to low price, yet high
quality goods, not knowing of the children who slaved away making them. Whatever
reluctance Mirza currently has are greatly overshadowed by his poverty, which is extreme and
worsening. He supports a family of five by working at a kiln nearby, moulding bricks by hand
for around 80 hours a week. Many families in similar conditions are forced to give their
children up to manufacturers like Sadique for as little as $15 US. Poverty is ruling the
children’s lives. They are thrown into an endless cycle of hard manual labour. Once the child
is put into this cycle, the family usually cannot raise enough money to buy the child back, or
the child never gets an education or even a payment to go do something else later on in
his/her life.
Text source: http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01908/1024/lifestory_nadeem.htm
Task 1
Answer the questions about the text.
1. What would be the “advantages” Nadeem will enjoy when he continues working and
not go to school?
2. Why does Sadique hire child labour? Give four reasons:
1.
2.
3.
4.
3. What do the American and European consumers not know about the production of
rugs?
4. Why are many families forced to make their children earn a living?
TASK 2
Find from the internet the 8 Millennium Development Goals.
Copy and paste them here:
1.
2.

2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Which development goal is connected to Nadeem’s life story?
TASK 4. What does social justice/injustice mean to you? Explain
it in your own words and find a picture to illustrate it.