Child labour

This is the age of outrage and digital protest. We do not think twice before posting a big rant on Facebook or Twitter. But when it comes to take action we chose to look at the other side. Although we know what is wrong in our society, we do not take action to prevent the ills that are permeating our society. We teach in colleges that child labour should be banned. But we close our eyes when we see children cleaning our car mirrors. We often fought with them over small amount of money. How many of us have passed by children standing at signals without thinking about them? How many of us have stopped and asked them whether or not they had evening meal? We can come out of our homes for a political party and can spend the night on the streets over a senseless political rivalry, but we can’t do anything about child labour. This is because we are worried about our selfish reasons. Who will do our household chores, if there is a complete ban on child labour?

Although the government has introduced so many laws including The Employment of Children Act 1991, The Factories Act 1934 and The West Pakistan Shops and Establishments Ordinance 1969, child labour continues to exist because of the lack of implementation of these laws. Our government can levy taxes and impose duties, but it cannot implement these laws. Certain NGOs are working to minimise this problem. But this is not enough. The NGOs can’t touch each deprived section. The government should stop using children as the engines of economies of Pakistan. It should strictly implement these laws and introduce well-thought-out plans to put an end to child labour.

Hamza Mushtaq

Multan