Child labour is one of the biggest threat to the rights of children worldwide. An estimated 12 million children are victims of child labour in Pakistan alone. The country's lack of funds and resources invested in the education sector also proves to be a hindrance in combating child labour. Weak law enforcement contributes to the persistence of child labour in Pakistan. Despite legal prohibition of child labour, weak implementation, corruption and lack of the awareness about the existing laws allows employers to exploit children for cheap labour.
The lack of enforcement perpetuates the cycle of child labour and inhibits children access to education. The creation and execution of an effective legal and policy framework is an important step in the fight against child labour. Addressing this issue requires comprehensive solutions such as strengthening the legislation, enforcing laws, ensuring high quality education, better monitoring, engaging NGOs, international organisations and incorporating best policies from other countries.
Ayesha Aslam
Bahawalpur