Child Labour On The Rise Despite Laws Against It: Kashif Bajeer

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd May, 2017 ) :The situation of child labor in Pakistan is alarmingly high and posing threats to the health and education of the children involved and the global extent of child labour and raise awareness on the condition of millions of children, girls and boys.

Talking to APP, here on Tuesday National Manager Society of Protection of Rights of Child (SPARC), Kashif Bajeer informed that there are more than 1.7 million bonded laborers only in agriculture sector whereas 3.3 million children laborers are in the country according to 2015 survey and the employment of underage children in work activities.

He said that the children of laborers are deprived of education, health and hygiene. The freed bonded laborers are not being provided CNICs, birth registrations certificates and their Names are not including in the new voter list.

He emphasized that the children of freed bonded laborers must be enrolled in government school and necessary facilities should be provided to them. Manager of SPARC said that the bonded labor is a reality which exists in many forms, further he said that Hyderabad and its surrounding all the Brick kilns will be registered soon and they will be bound to pay all the laborers according to the rules and regulation which is fixed by the government.

He emphasized that besides conscious people of the society, it is also imperative to have the cooperation of members of children families to eradicate child labor but due to lacking cooperation, many government schemes are not proving successful.

Unfortunately, Kashif Bajeer said, children are being subjected to forced labor in the third world and to some extent in developed countries also.

He said that religiously and morally, the Constitution of Pakistan does not allow children and women to be subjected to forced labor and slavery.

Kashif Bajeer said that the child labor is a challenge for Pakistan government and urged all stakeholders and the media to carry out joint efforts to meet the challenge for a better future for children.

He also expressed concern over non-implementation of laws against child labor in letter and spirit and emphasized the need of public awareness of the issue. Kashif Bajeer said that the children are living a life of deprivation and violation of all their fundamental rights such as education, health care, recreation, proper nutrition, safe and secure environment and a childhood free of work and exploitation.

He said that the majority of these children are working in worst forms of labor such as deep sea fishing, bangle making, carpet weaving, stone crushing, tanning and rag picking etc, he said and demanded of the government and the civil society to give every child his and her right to quality, uniform, education in order to combat child labor.

Kashif Bajeer said that the rise in incidents of street crime and begging in Hyderabad other rural and areas increased and the growing of child labor increased and they involved in different criminals activity and this is alarming.

He appreciated the role of media and said that they raising this issue at local and national level, still more efforts are needed so that the bonded related laws could be implemented effectively, Kashif added.