Child labour refers to a crime where children are forced to work from a very early age. It is like expecting kids to perform responsibilities like working and fending for themselves. Child labour takes away the kid’s opportunity of having a normal childhood, a proper education, and physical and mental well-being. In some countries, it is illegal but still, it’s a far way from being completely eradicated. Children around the world are routinely engaged in paid and unpaid forms of work that are not harmful to them. However, they are classified as child labourers when they are either too young to work, or are involved in hazardous activities that may compromise their physical, mental, social or educational development. In the least developed countries, slightly more than one in four children (ages 5 to 17) are engaged in labour that is considered detrimental to their health and development. Child Labour happens due to a number of reasons. While some of the reasons may be common in some countries, there are some reasons which are specific in particular areas and regions. When we look at what is causing child labour, we will be able to fight it better. Firstly, it happens in countries that have a lot of poverty and unemployment. When the families won’t have enough earning, they put the children of the family to work so they can have enough money to survive. Similarly, if the adults of the family are unemployed, the younger ones have to work in their place. Also, when people do not have access to education, they will ultimately put their children to work. The uneducated only care about a short-term result which is why they put children to work so they can survive their present. Furthermore, the money-saving attitude of various industries is a major cause of child labour. They hire children because they pay them less for the same work as an adult. As children work more than adults and also at fewer wages, they prefer children. They can easily influence and manipulate them.They only see their profit and this is why they engage children in factories. Africa ranks highest among regions both in the percentage of children in child labour — one-fifth — and the absolute number of children in child labour — 72 million. Asia and the Pacific ranks second highest in both these measures — 7% of all children and 62 million in absolute terms are in child labour in this region. Did you know:
(a) The number of children in child labour has risen to 160 million worldwide – an increase of 8.4 million children in the last four years.
(b) The agriculture sector accounts for 70% of children in child labour, followed by 20% in services and 10% in industry.
(c) Child labour is more prevalent among boys than girls at every age but when 21 hours per week of household chores are taken into account, the gender gap in child labour narrows.
(d) Child labour in rural areas stands at 14%, nearly three times higher than the 5% in urban areas. Every religion has given the fundamental rights to every one, whether he is child, women, man or old man.
The basic teachings of Islam is to earn money through legitimacy sources. In Islam, it has been described, that earning is a thing, for which man is responsible. Actually it is the responsibility of man to earn money for the fulfillment of necessities of his family. Allah says in Quran: So, it is not the responsibility of children to earn money, they have a right to enjoy their childhood and get education. Islam has given facilities to children in prayers and in different matters. Muslims are aware about Child Labour and Quranic Teachings: Undoubtedly, that Allah does not give human beings too much pain which is more than their capacity.(Quran) So, from this Quranic Verse, we get to know that, to compel the children to work in hazardous sectors, like, chemical industries, agricultural sectors or mining secotrs is against the rules of Islamic teachings. Children according to Islam, are entitled to various rights. The first and foremost of these rights is the right to be properly bought up, raised and educated. This means, the children should be given ethical, religious guidance. They should be taught what is wrong and what is right. Allah, says in the Quran: Children therefore are a trust given to parents. Parents will be responsible for this trust on the day of judgment. No doubt in it, that parents are responsible for moral, ethical and essential religious teachings of their children. Children have the right to be fed, clothed and protected till they grow up to adulthood. It is primarily, the duty of father to do that. Mother can provide help if necessary. Protection means to protect them from physical, moral and intellectual harm. Child has a right to get education, and this right has given Islam to them. Every body in a society has a rights and responsibilities. Islam establishes, a kind of society, where everyone cooperates each other and takes care of other. The biggest reason of child labour is poverty. That is why, Islam has given us the teaching to help poor people, relatives and orphans. If any Muslim of the society, who is very poor, that he is unable to bear the expenses of his family and their children are compelled to work. In this situation people should come forward and help such poor families. In some conditions, child labour is permissible in Islam. Different scholars mentioned permissible conditions of child labour. Such as Imam Kasani says: Actually, he is of the view, that learning any kind of skill while working is the thing, that helps him for making him civilized and it is good for his physical exercise. It is said in favour of it, that Hazrat Ans, served the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) for many years. Hazrat Ans said by himself that Through these arguments, the things come before us that services can be taken from young children. Strickness should not be applied on children, when they work. Work, that is given to the children should be according to their capacity. So, those kind of labour for children is permissible in Islam, which does not affect their health and education and which is according to their capacity and from which they can learn some art and skill. Islam has not given just the teachings but it establishes a system, where everyone can enjoy his rights. It given the practical system of Zakat, and imposes this responsibility upon the government to collect Zakat from rich ones and distribute it among poor people. It is the responsibility of our government to provide all facilities of life to its masses and should take some serious steps to eliminate the social evil of child labour. Poor children are compelled to work because of poverty, so government should eradicate this poverty, so children may enjoy their childhood and get education. Not only the government but also the public sector should take some serious steps for the removal of child labour by helping the poor people. The World Day Against Child Labor is an annual observance held on June 12th to raise awareness about the plight of child laborers around the world and promote efforts to eliminate this practice. Child labor is defined as any work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity. It is a serious violation of children’s rights and can have long-term negative consequences on their health, education, and future opportunities. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that there are still around 152 million children engaged in child labor worldwide, with the majority of them working in agriculture, mining, domestic service, or in the informal sector. Many of these children are forced to work long hours in hazardous conditions, without access to education, healthcare, or basic rights and protections.The World Day Against Child Labor was first observed in 2002, following a resolution adopted by the ILO at its annual conference. Since then, it has become an important platform for raising awareness about child labor and advocating for stronger laws, policies, and programs to protect children from exploitation and abuse. In fact, the day was created to raise awareness about the issue of child labor and to promote efforts to eradicate it. The ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes decent working conditions, social justice, and labor rights. The ILO had created several conventions on child labor, including the Minimum Age Convention, which established a minimum age for work and prohibited the worst forms of child labor. Despite these efforts, millions of children worldwide were still forced to work in dangerous and exploitative conditions. The World Day Against Child Labor was created to provide a platform to raise awareness about the issue of child labor and to call for action to eliminate it. The observance allows countries to assess their progress in combating child labor and renew their commitment to protecting children’s rights. Each year, the World Day Against Child Labor has a specific theme that focuses on a particular aspect of child labor. Through the World Day Against Child Labor, the ILO and its partners work towards eliminating child labor and ensuring every child receives a quality education and a safe and healthy childhood. The theme of this year’s World Day Against Child labour is “Week of Action against Child Labour” The significance of this day is to pay attention to the problems of child labour and to find ways to eradicate it. The day is used to spread awareness about the harmful mental and physical problems faced by children forced into child labour, all over the world. Almost one in ten of all children worldwide are in child labour. While the number of children in child labour has declined by 94 million since 2000, the rate of reduction slowed by two-thirds in recent years. Target 8.7 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals calls for an end to child labour in all its forms by 2025. Unless the root causes of child labour are addressed, the problem will persist. India still has the highest number of child labourers in the world despite stringent laws and regulations. Bachpan Bachao Andolan has been working consistently with the government to spread awareness about the issue, build ownership and strengthen its response mechanism through prolonged initiatives. India Action Week is one such action where the organisation underpins the work of the government in rescuing victims of child labour across the country. BBA along with state governments, district administrations and local organisations conducts rescue th operations, supplemented by campaigns and trainings. The Week commences from 12 of June every year, which also marks the World Day against Child Labour. This year, BBA partnered with 13 states to rescue child labourers and heightened awareness on a large scale through simultaneous actions in different states.
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Children are pivotal means to progress. It is high time to attend to the needs and rights of children not as a mere product of progress but as a means to progress itself. Concluding the article with this beautiful quote by Nelson Mandela: Let us reach out to the children. Let us do whatever we can to support their fight to rise above their pain and suffering.
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Following are some the suggestions that need to be taken into consideration: (i) If we make education free till age of 14 years and raise awareness among people, we will certainly be able to educate more and more children who won’t have to do child labour. Moreover, making people aware of the harmful consequences of child labour is a must. (ii) Establishing more organisations that solely work to prevent child labour. It should help the children indulging in this work and punish those who make them do it. (iii) Some people are never employed to torture or molest, but their situation makes them search for work. These children are either homeless or family-less. We can manage to adopt such children or we can at least get them admitted to school as a kind gesture from their side. (iv) According to Indian laws, any child who is less than fourteen years in age can’t be employed anywhere and at any place as a child labourer. If you see anyone doing this act, you can easily file a complaint report against them by reaching the nearest police station. (v) One of the important steps to making the society child labour free is to know yourself about the provisions laid down in our Constitution for the protection of children, as well as the various laws in place to stop their exploitation and ensure prosecution of offenders. (vi) Employment opportunities must be given to people in abundance so they can earn their livelihood instead of putting their kids to work. Children are the future of our country; we cannot expect them to maintain the economic conditions of their families instead of having a normal childhood. (vii) Many times, there are children working around us with their parents also in the vicinity. This gives us a brilliant chance to talk to these parents about the serious implications that child labour has on children, in long run. Try counselling the parents of these children and persuade them to take the children out of work and enrol them in schools instead, thus helping the children move towards a different and better future. (viii) A touch of individual financial help is always supported. Complaint against child labour is a way of eradicating it, but it does not eradicate the wound of that child which is homeless or who needs money. We should help such children with the help of NGOs or we should help them financially in order to support them in becoming a good person in future. (ix) Ending child labour requires immediate action, accelerated motivation and collaborative partnerships at all levels. It robs children of their right to an innocent childhood. So do your bit to stop it by making informed decisions and spreading awareness…!! The worst forms of child labour involve children being enslaved, separated from their families, exposed to serious hazards and illnesses and/or left to fend for themselves on the streets of large cities often at a very early age. According to ILO the latest Global Estimates indicate that 152 million children — 64 million girls and 88 million boys — are in child labour globally, accounting for almost one in 10 of all children worldwide. Nevertheless, children are pivotal means to progress. It is high time to attend to the needs and rights of children not as a mere product of progress but as a means to progress itself. Concluding the article with this beautiful quote by Nelson Mandela: Let us reach out to the children. Let us do whatever we can to support their fight to rise above their pain and suffering.
(The authors write regularly on socio-economic issues exclusively for the opinion pages of “ Kashmir Horizon” . The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
