Child at Risk of Abuse
A 12 Year
Old Flower
It is heart
breaking decision to sacrifice joyful moments of childhood. It is harsh decisions for parents with poverty to
send flowers of their gardens to sell their childhood. Since the start of
fasting month, I have been enjoying company of intellectuals from academia here
in Multan; I have been observing Mr. Ali, a 12 year old boy. Ali is a waiter in
a road side hotel where customers arrive to kill time till dawn. Taking orders
from customers with attention and behaving obediently to avoid dissatisfaction
of customers. Meeting demands of customers is his core responsibility. His services
behavior could increase or decrease customer retention rate. Energetic and
smart waiter who serves on right time is all time favorite to customers
visiting to munch something delicious in late hours. Ali is one of the
efficient waiters at hotel and I observed maximum customers call him by name,
which means, he earned credit-ability and hospitality.
“I have
been working here since 2017. We are four brothers and sisters and I am
elder than three siblings. My father is addicted of narcotics and my mother
does cleaning and dusting job in different houses of wealthy people. Her income
was not enough to fill stomach of four children and to pay off overheads.
Addicted father is a liability on shoulders of my mother. Our relatives were
supporting us initially but gradually they ended their support. We never see
the face of school”. His eyes were gloomy and his voice reflects the pain he
has been bearing at the age of 12 year. He is full-time employee of this hotel. His
monthly salary ranges from PKR 6000-8000. He spent more than eight
hours per day and does not have any holiday. He took order and went to serve
others. When he was serving us, he mentioned that hotel’s owner was asking
reasons of spending more time at our table. It made me realize that the owners
are even concerned with whom their underage workers talk.
It is not
merely a case of Mr. Ali; thousands of similar kids have been doing jobs to
earn. These children are at high risk of forced domestic labor. In 2017, state
o Pakistan took advance moments to reduce forced domestic child labor.
According to report, sindh
Province passed the Prohibition of Employment of Children, which establishes
age 15 as the minimum age for employment and age 19 as the minimum age for
employment in hazardous work. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province also passed the Free
Compulsory Primary and Secondary Education Act, making education free and
compulsory for children ages 5 to 16. In addition, four provinces allocated
funds to conduct child labor surveys, using the ILO-UNICEF Statistical
Information and Monitoring Program on Child Labor methodology. However,
children in Pakistan engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in
forced domestic work and in bonded labor in brick kilns. Balochistan Province
has not established a minimum age for work or hazardous work in compliance with
international standards. In addition, provincial governments do not have the
resources necessary to adequately enforce laws prohibiting child labor[1].
Furthermore, increasing child labor statistics have been disappointing
commitment of state under Article 25-A of the constitution of Pakistan. State
has been striving to provide and free and compulsory education to children. It
seems day dreams but not aligning with on ground situation every house has been
facing.
In
promulgated policies and plans relevant to combating child labor, Sindh and
Punjab Plan to combat bonded labor are not being taken serious even in relevant
public offices. Punjab Labor Policy also covers the combating child labor and
delegating authorities to Labor Department to take necessary measures to end
child labor. Inking paper and hiring human resources in relevant department
isn’t enough. Combating child labor is constitutional duty of state. The
existing statistic shows feeble situation.
Ali
is generous enough towards his family but victim of poorly implemented policies
and agreed actions plan. No one can say surely his escaped from child abuse and
sexual assault. State is responsible of increasing child labor. State has to
strengthen capacity of institutions to deliver mandatory services. Ali could go
to school along with his siblings. Legislatures need to push standing committee
on human rights to promote accountability of relevant departments. Without
financial support to families like Ali’s family, implementation of the
promulgated laws and policies would not be effective to address root cause
which is poverty.
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If those kids get enrolled in the schools what can be alternate source if income to meet other components of life at household level? Isn't it better than begging? Here the thing is that Pakistan is facing some real issues regarding child labour and what I think the reasons of increased child labour is also because of migration, seasonal migration and war and conflicts etc. Once they migrate they don't have any source of income to get stable in city as city's life is harsh economically so that these child's have to come out of homes.....
ReplyDeleteawesome inputs with doable solutions
Deleteappreciated
Thanks sir for appreciation
DeleteAwwwww :( feeling sad for that child .....:( No what else can a Pakistani child do for Thier family.....
ReplyDeleteHeart breaking feeling sad for Ali .
ReplyDeleteThe main root cause of child labor is extreme poverty which forces parents to employ their children for some extra money for daily living .
ReplyDeleteIts reality.. When a child is in workplace, he is prone to harassment and different modes of abuse that may not only be verbal but a physical or sexual abuse too.. Apparently Pakistani constitution has made free education till 15 year but the practically is totally contradicting to it..
ReplyDelete