Child Labor and Society

Child labor is the result of lack of social security/poverty/unemployment and excess population. Unless strict measures are adopted by the international community, child labor cannot be eradicated. There should be joint efforts by international societies and local governments to reform and minimize poverty, bring social security in unorganized sectors and curtail excessive growth of population. We have to understand as to why children go to work. If parents don't send their children to work, factories will not be able to exploit them. Are the children forced by their parents to go to work? If yes, why? 

Nearly 30% of the population in poor countries are the poorest of the poor who are not able to earn enough for one day's food. Parents of these children are mainly illiterate or semi-literate. Some percentage of child labor comes from brutality/ harassment by parents or step-parents. They are mainly from urban areas of lower middle-income group. This percentage is easily controllable by penalties to such parents and by children's rights. But rural poverty, lack of employment or partial employment and illiteracy has given birth to majority of child labor problems.

Our understanding should be a little more practical, as no parent wants the child to work at an age when he/she is meant to study and play. The system of child labor prevails in countries, which are poor or underdeveloped. Nearly 70% of the world’s poor live in Asia alone and the major contribution is made by China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. In India alone around 45% of the population (of one billion) is illiterate/semi-literate who are not able to find jobs in modern industries. 

Poverty and population

The governments in Asia should boldly make decisions to control excessive growth of population even if it means taking harsh decisions. This can be achieved by announcing incentives and disincentives. Illiterates have their reasons - religion is one of the big factors that illiterates misunderstand. Religious leaders can be taken into confidence, for this would definitely spell partial success. Second reason being that 'more the children, more the income'. This perception is definitely wrong and dangerous. We have to put an end to it.

Steps to control the problem:

• Entitlement of subsidized food articles and services. Subsidy can be allocated by grading a small/big family and this would help in the long run.

• Entitlement of government positions and promotions depending on the size of the family.

• Entitlement of special preference for a small family or poor category to upgrade the standard of living by way of loan and education to set up small scale industries.

• Each central/state/district and local area head to be made responsible and accountable in his or her legislative area by mutual agreement to upgrade their areas.

Industries

Populated countries with higher level of poverty should work for industrialization that is helpful for all categories of the population such as literate, semi-literate and illiterates. Governments of these countries should mainly concentrate on modernization and heavy industries. Of course, in the present world, modernization of industries is very important to withstand the international competition and standards. Cottage industries such as agricultural instruments and tools handloom/ handicrafts/ poultry farms, etc., can be encouraged. Scope of these sectors has to be widened as they have the capacity to consume mass level of workers. Governments and international institutions should come forward to upgrade the quality and measures to bring costs as low as possible and take steps to improve its demand for these products. This could be done by inviting private sectors' and international organizations' participation to bring know-how for research and development and promote demand of such products. W.T.O and other international agencies also can be helpful by allocating minimum quantity quota required for imports with incentives to boost demand. Governments should identify traditional or suitable products from rural areas, which can be promoted scientifically without affecting the traditional grace and also make sure of the availability of raw material and distribution at the best possible price.

Education and Training

Child labor is today a subject that has deteriorated in its purpose rather than getting the problem solved, for due realization has not set in. In some families, due to unavoidable reasons children are the only source of income for the entire family. Such children when they are deprived of factory or shop work have no choice but to beg and sell odd items in the streets of urban areas or become child prostitutes. Many children are made to indulge in these activities by the atmosphere prevailing in society. The ultimate objective of a child is to earn and feed the ailing mother or parents.

The governments and NGOs or other international organizations can help by launching schemes of education-based earning. That is the study-and-earn system. Items may be identified from those areas, which are suitable to young children. It would be an educational apprenticeship with basic education provided. This is not a crime but support to a needy child and better understanding of the crisis. We can identify the poor parents, who don’t send their children to work due to financial crisis, and support by donation to educate their children. It is a little tricky though, as some parents may take the money and not send the child to school. In such cases donations should be based on school attendance. School students from urban areas could be asked to visit their rural counterparts. Not only will the rural children be educated but it will also provide an opportunity to urban students for social involvement with the rural population. Higher education becomes purposeful when it updates the plights and brings ideas to solutions. Also social involvement of college students with the rural village population will bring social awareness and better practical education. 

Besides fighting for child labor, the NGOs should also come with new ideas to restore the parents' employment opportunity by suggesting to the respective governments to work with a commitment. International community has a responsibility towards poverty. There should not be a vast gap between the poor and rich. International organizations and community need to come forward and renew their way of thinking.

Consequences of Child Poverty

Education Children who live in poverty have no access to basic education so they can't define their future.   Read More

Death Child poverty takes out so many children lives. We must prevent something to stop this!   Read More

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