In the last three months, a large number of children involved in hazardous jobs have joined more dangerous work.
From July to September, of the 30,313 children involved in hazardous child labour in eight districts of the country, 7,800 started doing jobs that are even more dangerous than their previous jobs, according to a survey done by 11 affiliate organizations of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).
Some 5,600 of these working children moved to a different place in search of work, while 2,400 were forced to join new jobs at lower wages, read a press release issued on Sunday.
The data was revealed in a virtual meeting titled “Covid-19: Current situation of working children and their protection” arranged by MJF, marking National Child Rights Week. The meeting was conducted by MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Abul Hossain, project director of the Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence Against Women, emphasized coordination between government and private initiatives to prevent child labour.
Shaheen Anam urged the government to reconsider the demand to form a separate department for children’s affairs and take necessary measures against all forms of child abuse, including sexual ones.
