Child Labour

 

The International Labor Organization states that not all work done by children should be classified as child labor that is to be targeted for elimination. Children’s or adolescents’ participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling, is generally regarded as being something positive. This includes activities such as helping their parents around the home, assisting in a family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays. These kinds of activities contribute to children’s development and to the welfare of their families; they provide them with skills and experience, and help to prepare them to be productive members of society during their adult life.

The term “child labor” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that;

• is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children;and
• interferes with their schooling by:
• depriving them of the opportunity to attend school;
• obliging them to leave school prematurely; or
• Requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.

Child Labour in South Asia

Recent national surveys from seven South Asian countries estimate 30 million children in employment, almost 17 million in child labour and 50 million children out of school. These findings have limitations, key ones being: not all children in employment can be considered as being in child labour; not all forms of child labour are being captured by these statistical surveys; and there are considerable variations in the survey methodologies and scope across the countries. (ILO)

Click the below link to know more about child labour

http://www.ilo.org/newdelhi/areasofwork/child-labour/WCMS_300805/lang--en/index.htm