By: Zara Amoon
As the world marks the International Day Against Child Labour on June 12, Pakistan joins the global effort to highlight and address the persistent issue of child labour. Established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2002, the day is a call to action to eliminate all forms of child labour. In Pakistan, where millions of children are engaged in hazardous and exploitative work, the day carries deep significance.
Despite policy measures and legislative efforts, child labour remains widespread across the country, depriving children of their rights to education, health, and a secure future.
The Scope of Child Labour in Pakistan:
Child labour in Pakistan continues to be a major concern. Although updated nationwide data is limited, estimates suggest that more than 12 million children are engaged in various forms of labour. The situation has worsened in the wake of economic downturns triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and widespread poverty.
Children in Pakistan are employed across numerous sectors, including agriculture, brick kilns, carpet weaving, domestic service, mining, and small industries. Urban areas such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad report a concentration of children working in informal sectors like street vending and waste collection. In rural regions, many children are involved in agricultural labour and bonded labour arrangements.
Root Causes of Child Labour:
Multiple socio-economic and structural factors contribute to the persistence of child labour in Pakistan:
Poverty and Economic Inequality: Families in financial distress often rely on their children’s earnings. In many instances, children are the main breadwinners.
Limited Access to Education: With more than 22 million children out of school, Pakistan faces a deep educational crisis. Poor school quality and inaccessibility discourage families from prioritizing education.
Weak Law Enforcement: While laws exist to curb child labour—including the Employment of Children Act (1991) and the Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act (2016)—enforcement is sporadic and largely ineffective.
Cultural Norms: In many communities, child labour is socially accepted, especially when children work in family trades or contribute to household income.
Lack of Social Protection: The absence of safety nets makes families more likely to send children to work during times of crisis, such as natural disasters or economic shocks.
Impact on Children and Society:
Child labour has far-reaching effects on both individuals and society. Working children are often denied education and exposed to dangerous working conditions. They face physical and psychological risks, including abuse and exploitation, particularly in unregulated sectors.
At the societal level, child labour perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Without proper education and skills, these children enter adulthood with limited employment prospects, affecting the country’s economic development and productivity in the long term.
Legal Framework and Government Response
Pakistan is a signatory to several key international agreements, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO Conventions 138 and 182. Domestically, several laws aim to regulate and prohibit child labour:
Article 11 of the Constitution prohibits slavery and child labour.
Employment of Children Act (1991) bans children under 14 from hazardous work.
Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act (2016) expands the list of hazardous occupations and stipulates penalties.
Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act (1992) outlaws bonded labour practices.
Despite this legal framework, enforcement remains a major hurdle. Labour inspections are infrequent, especially in informal and rural sectors, and implementation is often hindered by corruption and a lack of political will.
Some initiatives have shown promise, including:
The National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), which monitors child rights.
Child Labour Survey (2019–2021) conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics with ILO support.
The Ehsaas Program, which offers conditional cash transfers to encourage school attendance.
Civil Society and International Engagement:
In the face of limited government enforcement, civil society organizations and international NGOs have played a critical role. Groups such as SPARC (Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child), Save the Children, and ILO Pakistan run campaigns and programs focused on education, awareness, and rehabilitation.
Community-based initiatives, including mobile schools and vocational training centers, have helped reach children in remote and underserved areas. Additionally, public-private partnerships are emerging to address child labour in industries such as textiles and sports manufacturing.
Case Study: Sialkot’s Sports Goods Industry
Sialkot, a major hub for football manufacturing, faced global criticism in the 1990s for employing children in football stitching. In response, local businesses collaborated with ILO and UNICEF to launch the Sialkot Child Labour Elimination Project. The initiative successfully removed children from the workforce and enrolled them in schools. It remains a model for how coordinated efforts can produce meaningful results.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite increased awareness and interventions, several challenges remain:
Lack of recent, comprehensive data on child labour.
Insufficient budget allocation for education and child protection.
Heavy reliance on NGOs, with limited long-term government involvement.
Vulnerability of children during economic and environmental crises.
Difficulty regulating the large informal economy where much of the child labour exists.
Recommendations
Experts and advocates propose several steps to address the issue more effectively:
1. Strengthen Enforcement: Increase labour inspections and ensure penalties are enforced. District-level monitoring units should be established.
2. Expand Access to Education: Boost investment in public schools and extend conditional cash transfers to more families.
3. Raise Public Awareness: Use media and community platforms to challenge norms that accept child labour.
4. Develop a Unified Protection System: Implement a comprehensive national child protection policy with inter-departmental coordination.
5. Support Adult Employment: Ensure fair wages and employment opportunities for adults to reduce family dependence on child labour.
6. Invest in Data Collection: Conduct regular surveys and research to support data-driven policymaking.
A Call for Action
The International Day Against Child Labour serves as a poignant reminder that child labour remains a pressing issue in Pakistan. While policies and initiatives exist, the gap between legislation and implementation is wide. For sustainable progress, child rights must be central to Pakistan’s development priorities.
Eliminating child labour will require a multi-stakeholder approach involving government agencies, civil society, the private sector, and the public. Only with collective commitment and action can Pakistan move toward a future where every child is in school and free from exploitation—not just on June 12, but every day.