Mangalore: Reflection on World Anti-Child Labor Day on Global Perspective and India

Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 13 Jun 2013: It’s the World Anti-Child Labor Day.  The third world countries are striving to end this social evil by a remembrance on this day every year.  Despite the efforts, the evil practice still persists that has been a disgrace to civil society.  Let us see which countries face the child labor in the world.   What are the laws in India to govern the child labor that this article focuses on?

 

 

The countries that face child labor:

Male
It’s the tiny nation in West Africa ridden with poverty and illiteracy where child labor is rampant.  It’s the topmost country in the world which accounts for more child laborers.   It has no proper laws to curb the social evil.  It’s common to find 51.14 percent of children between the ages of 10 years to 14 years are engaged in different work across the country.

Bhutan
It’s our neighboring country where child labor is highly prevalent due to lack of education and poverty.  It’s common to find children between the ages of 13 years to 17 years working in strenuous labor outside their homes.  Nearly 51.10 percent of children between the ages of 10 to 14 are engaged in hard labor.  UNICEF and other NGOs are striving to eliminate child labor in the country.

Burundi
It’s the small nation in south Africa, where the child labor prevails because of poverty and illiteracy.  It ranks third in the world in child labor.  Nearly 48.50 percent of children between the ages of 10 years to 14 years are engaged in child labor, in spite of UNICEF and other NGOs striving to eradicate.

Uganda
It’s a small country in South Africa where child labor persists owing to poverty.  Nearly 43.79 percent of children between the ages of 10 years to 14 years are child labourers that are prevalent owing to socio-economical issues, large families, and illiteracy.  The change in mindset among the natives about child labor had to be changed for better results, says Chld Voice that has been striving to eradicate child labor in the country.

Nigeria
Its one of the nation in south Africa, wherein children between the ages of 10 years to 14 years are engaged in child labor.  As per an estimate of 2006, there are 1.5 crore child laborers in the country.  The acute poverty is driving the children to forced labor who contributes chiefly for the national exchequer.

Burkina Faso

It’s the tiny and poor country in south Africa, where 43.45 percent of children between the ages of 10 years to 14 years are engaged in child labor which is caused by acute poverty and illiteracy.  The state authorities have not tried to address this burning issue, says UNHCR.

Ethiopia
Its also a poor nation in south Africa that has been facing acute poverty, malnutrition, hunger.  As per the survey of 2001, 91 percent of children are engaged in industrial sector.  Nearly 42.45 percent of children between the ages of 10 years to 14 years are child laborers.   The society does not consider child labour is a social evil.  The country is ideally set for child labor, says the studies by ILO.

Nepal
Its our neighboring country ranks eighth place in the world for child labor that has been caused by extreme poverty and illiteracy.  Nearly 42.05 percent of children between the ages of 10 years to 14 years are child laborers.  UNICEF has been striving to eradicate child labor with the government by literacy and uplifting the economic situation of families.

Ruanda
It’s a central African nation that has child labor owing to illiteracy.  Nearly 41.35 percent of children between the ages of 10 years to 14 years are employed in different sectors.

Kenya
It’s the tenth largest country in terms of child labor that was solely responsible for poverty and illiteracy.  Nearly 39.15 percent of children between the ages of 10 years to 14 years are child laborers.  The schooling of girl children are of no use, which is the mindset of the citizens, says UNICEF study.

 
The laws in India to eliminate child labor:

Child labor is punishable in accordance with the law.  Every successive government have framed several laws after Independence to curb child labor.  As per the 24th schedule in the Indian constitution, children up till the age of 14 are forbidden to work in factories.  Another Act has been passed during 1960 to educate the children and provide infrastructural facilities.  Accordingly, the children from the ages of 6 to 14 years are mandatory to study (under sub clause 21 A and sub clause 45).

Punishment:

The employer who employed a child labour will be sentenced in prison.  The child labor between the ages of 6 years to 14 years is totally banned. Meanwhile, if it’s proven, the employer had to undergo 2 years prison sentence and pay a fine of Rs 50,000.  The children between the ages of 14 years to 18 years cannot be subjected to hard labor.