Information on Child Labour

The issue of children doing paid work is a complex and sensitive one. They work, often in factories, as domestic workers, in dhabhas, weaving carpets, rolling beedis, on farms. They work long hours, are paid a meager amount compared to adults doing the same work, are exploited by their employers, and are subject to both physical and sexual abuse. At such a tender age of the children if they are made to work for money as Child Labors it not only inhuman but that is the gross weakening of morality and human values It is difficult to say who has the right to judge whether children working is wrong or valuable. Opinions will also differ as to learning benefits.

An important consideration is the kind of work undertaken. Young children doing demanding and cyclical tasks on a factory production line, for example, are less likely to be learning than older children helping in an old people’s home. There are health and safety issues to be considered as well. These children are missing school and are subjected to health hazards including exposure to toxic substances and injuries from machines they are too young to operate safely. It is an unfortunate fact that many employers may prefer to use the services of children simply to save money by paying them less than adults and it is this type of exploitation that should be discouraged.

Experts attribute the increase in child labor violations to a shrinking labor pool caused by low unemployment. However, in many countries children work because their families need the additional income, no matter how small. This was certainly the case in the past in many industrialized countries, and it is very difficult to judge that it is wrong for children today to contribute to the family income in this way.

Nevertheless, in better economic circumstances, few parents would choose to send their children out to full-time paid work. If learning responsibilities and work experience are considered to be important, then children can acquire these by having light, part-time jobs or even doing tasks such as helping their parents around the family home, which are unpaid, but undoubtedly of value in children’s development.

There are Constitutional provisions and Union legislations which prohibit child labor up to the age of 14. In spite of international declaration children are found working in these industries throughout the world.  State officials say a growing number of employers are flouting the laws.

Employing Child Labor is absolutely wrong, illegal and inhuman. One must not forget that children are the future of our nation and we must protect them, educate them, and develop them to their optimum capacity.