Publish : 12 Jan 2022, 04:49 AMUpdate : 12 Jan 2022, 11:52 AM
Child labour is an issue which can single-handedly destroy the future. The constitution of Bangladesh and the Children's Act, 1974 affirms fundamental human rights and ensures supporting action for children.
Covid-19 pushed thousands of people into poverty, which harmed children from the poorest families the most, and forced many of them into labour. Regardless of the laws, the child labour rate is alarming in Bangladesh. The Covid-19 situation is relatively better, but we still do not see any new steps to end child labour.
The UN CRC and the ILO Convention define a child as an individual under 18 years. The Children Act 2013, Section 4 also considers a child to be under 18 years. The Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, however, defines a child as under 14 and adolescents between 14 and 18.
Child labour is a severe barrier to the development work of developing countries. Because of work, children drop out of school early, resulting in a lack of knowledge and skills, ultimately decreasing their chances of finding well-paid employment in the future. Moreover, child labour has a clear connection with poverty, social backwardness, lack of education, and, most importantly, the demand for cheap labour; the developing and under-developed countries naturally record higher numbers than developed countries.
According to the survey of the National Child Labour, 2013, 9.7% or more than 3.45 million children of the total 39.6 million were involved in child labour, where 1.28 million children were in hazardous jobs.
This year, the fire at Hashem Foods factory in Narayanganj highlighted the prominence of child labour in Bangladesh to some extent; at least 17 children were missing. It momentarily entered our consciences, and then disappeared.
Children hired at cheap rates as domestic help in many communities are subjected to abuse, and even rape. News reports of violence and torture against children in print and TV channels have increased -- moreover, children are scarred for life when they are forced into drug trafficking, prostitution, and other such activities.
Bangladesh Labour Law, section 34, prohibits the employment of children under 14. However, the practice of child labour cannot be stopped only by applying the law. It can be contained only when poverty will no longer account for about 20% of the country's population, when people are not going hungry, or are homeless, jobless, and landless due to economic conditions.
It is high time to give children access to education, a fundamental right which is the best way for them to increase their future earnings, benefitting society, and escaping the clutches of child labour. Articles 28 and 32 of the CRC 1989 establish the right to education and protection from economic exploitation. So, we comply with national and international laws to give children access to education.
In the end, we are duty-bound to give our children education without forcing them into work or other activities that deprive them of an education. Children must be treated with equality, respect, and dignity, not because they are “the future of tomorrow,” but because they are human beings. All humans are born spontaneously with fundamental freedoms and rights.
We cannot allow child labour to continue, as our future as a nation is dependent upon it. If we are to achieve the goal of overall development and poverty reduction in the country, child labour must be abolished. We need to honour the commitment we made to the children of the world.
Md Fahmedul Islam Dewan a recipient of the prestigious DLA Piper Scholarship, and serves as the General Secretary of North South University Law & Mooting Society (NSULMS).
Let them have a future
We cannot allow child labour to continue
Child labour is an issue which can single-handedly destroy the future. The constitution of Bangladesh and the Children's Act, 1974 affirms fundamental human rights and ensures supporting action for children.
Covid-19 pushed thousands of people into poverty, which harmed children from the poorest families the most, and forced many of them into labour. Regardless of the laws, the child labour rate is alarming in Bangladesh. The Covid-19 situation is relatively better, but we still do not see any new steps to end child labour.
The UN CRC and the ILO Convention define a child as an individual under 18 years. The Children Act 2013, Section 4 also considers a child to be under 18 years. The Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, however, defines a child as under 14 and adolescents between 14 and 18.
Child labour is a severe barrier to the development work of developing countries. Because of work, children drop out of school early, resulting in a lack of knowledge and skills, ultimately decreasing their chances of finding well-paid employment in the future. Moreover, child labour has a clear connection with poverty, social backwardness, lack of education, and, most importantly, the demand for cheap labour; the developing and under-developed countries naturally record higher numbers than developed countries.
According to the survey of the National Child Labour, 2013, 9.7% or more than 3.45 million children of the total 39.6 million were involved in child labour, where 1.28 million children were in hazardous jobs.
This year, the fire at Hashem Foods factory in Narayanganj highlighted the prominence of child labour in Bangladesh to some extent; at least 17 children were missing. It momentarily entered our consciences, and then disappeared.
Children hired at cheap rates as domestic help in many communities are subjected to abuse, and even rape. News reports of violence and torture against children in print and TV channels have increased -- moreover, children are scarred for life when they are forced into drug trafficking, prostitution, and other such activities.
Bangladesh Labour Law, section 34, prohibits the employment of children under 14. However, the practice of child labour cannot be stopped only by applying the law. It can be contained only when poverty will no longer account for about 20% of the country's population, when people are not going hungry, or are homeless, jobless, and landless due to economic conditions.
It is high time to give children access to education, a fundamental right which is the best way for them to increase their future earnings, benefitting society, and escaping the clutches of child labour. Articles 28 and 32 of the CRC 1989 establish the right to education and protection from economic exploitation. So, we comply with national and international laws to give children access to education.
In the end, we are duty-bound to give our children education without forcing them into work or other activities that deprive them of an education. Children must be treated with equality, respect, and dignity, not because they are “the future of tomorrow,” but because they are human beings. All humans are born spontaneously with fundamental freedoms and rights.
We cannot allow child labour to continue, as our future as a nation is dependent upon it. If we are to achieve the goal of overall development and poverty reduction in the country, child labour must be abolished. We need to honour the commitment we made to the children of the world.
Md Fahmedul Islam Dewan a recipient of the prestigious DLA Piper Scholarship, and serves as the General Secretary of North South University Law & Mooting Society (NSULMS).
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