MarkTheTruth
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United we stand, divided we fall! Its a moral that has proven to hold true in every walk of life and in almost all situations. What proves unfailingly true becomes a belief and beliefs are shared through expressions.
One example of this moral is the unity expressed by labour all over the world on May 1, the International Labour Day. It is a day when the labour groups, irrespective of geographical, cultural, ethnic, economic and political diversities, come together globally and commemorate the awareness of their rights. Many countries have declared May 1st as a national holiday.
From the pyramids of Egypt to the leaning tower of Pisa, the artifacts in Moen-jo-Daro and the pottery used in homes today, the laborers are indeed the makers of history. But what about the innocent children who work endlessly without any of the benefits given to a normal adult laborer? A major part of world labor comprises of children and this is the part which suffers most. While the situation is definitely worst in third world countries, it doesnt differ much in developed countries.
During the Industrial revolution, children were the preferred employed force owing to their nimble fingers and inability to stand against unjustified treatment. The young children from poor families and orphans worked in unsafe environment and often suffered fatal accidents.
However, it is important to understand that not all kinds of work done by children are to be thought of as child labor. Rather, the work that harms the mental or physical being of a child, interferes with their education and in turn, affects the social welfare is to be regarded as child labor. The healthy activities such as mowing neighbors lawn, helping around home and earning through part time jobs contribute to a childs confidence and general betterment.
The International Labor Organisation (ILO) states that globally there are about 218 million children in child labor. Around 126 million are working in highly hazardous situations such as mining, quarrying, working with heavy machinery, chemical and pesticides. Many have forgone schooling and run their own small business. Children sell odd items, worker as waiters, dishwashers and sweepers in restaurants. Some work in cottage factories performing the same repetitive tasks day in and day out. However, the highest majority of child labor is employed domestically. This same sector is the most difficult to reach for the child labor agencies and the media.
Every country has a minimum age limit for employing children. However, this law is often bypassed, especially in domestic work and cottage industries. In Pakistan, a large number of children work in sports goods. Young children are especially preferred for sewing footballs because their little fingers allow for finer stitching.
According to UNICEF, in Pakistan, about 3.6 million children aged up to 14 are employed in hazardous jobs.
Another major concern is child trafficking. Children are being sent outside Pakistan and are forced to become jockeys in camel races. In the rural areas, children work in the fields as bonded workers and are often paid less than minimum wage rate. In fact, they are often employed for food and shelter only. Many times, the wages are paid to the parents for the work done by children.
The need, at the moment, is to make the buying public realize that purchasing items made or assembled by children helps to encourage child labor.
The three most contributing factors behind this issue are poverty, illiteracy and parents authority over the childrens choice of work and wages. The social status, lack of proper skills and the ignorant attitude of the society also plays a major role.
True, the laws exist but their implementation does not reach the bonded laborers and inside homes. Even when it does, most cases are bypassed with a blinded eye.
The Government needs to pay serious attention towards this problem but today, let us take a look at where we, as children and teenagers ourselves, stand. How are we contributing to this nightmare? Think for a moment and remember all those times when we have overworked the children employed in our homes. When we have sat and eaten good food and made them work for the simple meals. When we scold them harshly for little mistakes.
Lack of education takes away their chance of improving their jobs. Every teenager who has passed matriculation papers, signed an oath to educate at least one person in our lifetime but which of us has actually fulfilled this oath or even thought seriously about it.
On this May 1st, let us put ourselves in their shoes and then take an action towards improving the lives of less privileged children in any little way we can.
Child Labour and Labour Day
One example of this moral is the unity expressed by labour all over the world on May 1, the International Labour Day. It is a day when the labour groups, irrespective of geographical, cultural, ethnic, economic and political diversities, come together globally and commemorate the awareness of their rights. Many countries have declared May 1st as a national holiday.
From the pyramids of Egypt to the leaning tower of Pisa, the artifacts in Moen-jo-Daro and the pottery used in homes today, the laborers are indeed the makers of history. But what about the innocent children who work endlessly without any of the benefits given to a normal adult laborer? A major part of world labor comprises of children and this is the part which suffers most. While the situation is definitely worst in third world countries, it doesnt differ much in developed countries.
During the Industrial revolution, children were the preferred employed force owing to their nimble fingers and inability to stand against unjustified treatment. The young children from poor families and orphans worked in unsafe environment and often suffered fatal accidents.
However, it is important to understand that not all kinds of work done by children are to be thought of as child labor. Rather, the work that harms the mental or physical being of a child, interferes with their education and in turn, affects the social welfare is to be regarded as child labor. The healthy activities such as mowing neighbors lawn, helping around home and earning through part time jobs contribute to a childs confidence and general betterment.
The International Labor Organisation (ILO) states that globally there are about 218 million children in child labor. Around 126 million are working in highly hazardous situations such as mining, quarrying, working with heavy machinery, chemical and pesticides. Many have forgone schooling and run their own small business. Children sell odd items, worker as waiters, dishwashers and sweepers in restaurants. Some work in cottage factories performing the same repetitive tasks day in and day out. However, the highest majority of child labor is employed domestically. This same sector is the most difficult to reach for the child labor agencies and the media.
Every country has a minimum age limit for employing children. However, this law is often bypassed, especially in domestic work and cottage industries. In Pakistan, a large number of children work in sports goods. Young children are especially preferred for sewing footballs because their little fingers allow for finer stitching.
According to UNICEF, in Pakistan, about 3.6 million children aged up to 14 are employed in hazardous jobs.
Another major concern is child trafficking. Children are being sent outside Pakistan and are forced to become jockeys in camel races. In the rural areas, children work in the fields as bonded workers and are often paid less than minimum wage rate. In fact, they are often employed for food and shelter only. Many times, the wages are paid to the parents for the work done by children.
The need, at the moment, is to make the buying public realize that purchasing items made or assembled by children helps to encourage child labor.
The three most contributing factors behind this issue are poverty, illiteracy and parents authority over the childrens choice of work and wages. The social status, lack of proper skills and the ignorant attitude of the society also plays a major role.
True, the laws exist but their implementation does not reach the bonded laborers and inside homes. Even when it does, most cases are bypassed with a blinded eye.
The Government needs to pay serious attention towards this problem but today, let us take a look at where we, as children and teenagers ourselves, stand. How are we contributing to this nightmare? Think for a moment and remember all those times when we have overworked the children employed in our homes. When we have sat and eaten good food and made them work for the simple meals. When we scold them harshly for little mistakes.
Lack of education takes away their chance of improving their jobs. Every teenager who has passed matriculation papers, signed an oath to educate at least one person in our lifetime but which of us has actually fulfilled this oath or even thought seriously about it.
On this May 1st, let us put ourselves in their shoes and then take an action towards improving the lives of less privileged children in any little way we can.
Child Labour and Labour Day
