Child Labour
India has over 440 million children. That is more than the entire population of North America (USA, Mexico and Canada put together). One in every five children in the world is Indian. India has the largest child labour force in the world; official figures indicate that there are over 12 million child workers in India, but many NGOs reckon the real figures are up to 60 million. The number of girls involved is not significantly lower than the boys.
Children are involved in many types of labour, which include many forms of ‘bonded labour’ which is where one will work as a form of debt repayment. As well, children are working in exploitative environments and dangerous conditions, such as: glass manufacturing, clothing manufacturing, leather tanning, footwear industries and stone quarries. Conditions within these workplaces are often appalling and continue to rob millions of their childhood.
Many child workers, including domestic workers, are “trafficked” and taken to large cities like Mumbai and Delhi, to work. This is
extremely common for children who live in rural villages or towns, especially after emergencies when families are even more
vulnerable. In most cases, children work anywhere from eight to fifteen hours with little time for rest. Families in rural areas are often drawn to the so-called ‘advantages’ of sending their child to work in the city – such as having an extra income to support the family and improved living conditions. However, the growing phenomenon of using children as domestic workers in urban areas is not advantageous at all. The conditions in which children work in are completely unregulated and they are often forced to work without food and very low wages, a situation which resembles slavery.
Children are involved in many types of labour, which include many forms of ‘bonded labour’ which is where one will work as a form of debt repayment. As well, children are working in exploitative environments and dangerous conditions, such as: glass manufacturing, clothing manufacturing, leather tanning, footwear industries and stone quarries. Conditions within these workplaces are often appalling and continue to rob millions of their childhood.
Many child workers, including domestic workers, are “trafficked” and taken to large cities like Mumbai and Delhi, to work. This is
extremely common for children who live in rural villages or towns, especially after emergencies when families are even more
vulnerable. In most cases, children work anywhere from eight to fifteen hours with little time for rest. Families in rural areas are often drawn to the so-called ‘advantages’ of sending their child to work in the city – such as having an extra income to support the family and improved living conditions. However, the growing phenomenon of using children as domestic workers in urban areas is not advantageous at all. The conditions in which children work in are completely unregulated and they are often forced to work without food and very low wages, a situation which resembles slavery.
There are a number of key factors that lead to child labour. Some of these factors include:
Poverty: Poverty with the family or community forces children to work to support their families.
Access to Quality Education: Educational opportunities are limited in India. Many children work because they lack access to decent education. Additionally, many of these children’s parents do not see the value of school or the dangers of working. Many believe working is a better option as it can provide financial rewards in a short period of time.
Culture: In many parts of the world, including India, work is seen to help teach children the skills they will need as adults. Working to support loved ones also provides children with a role within the family and a sense of self-esteem.
Vulnerable Situations: The more vulnerable a family is or a child becomes, the more likely it is that a child will set of for the workplace. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has produced huge numbers of orphans and seriously eroded the working population. Natural disasters can also increase the vulnerability of families, making it necessary for children to work to help the family.
Demand for Child Labour: In many countries the high demand for unskilled and poorly paid workers translates into high economic demand for child labour.
Link(s):
http://www.childlineindia.org.in/child-labour-india.htm
http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/assets/doc/Spotlight_on_Child_Labour_in_India.pdf
http://www.friendsofsbt.org/statistics
Poverty: Poverty with the family or community forces children to work to support their families.
Access to Quality Education: Educational opportunities are limited in India. Many children work because they lack access to decent education. Additionally, many of these children’s parents do not see the value of school or the dangers of working. Many believe working is a better option as it can provide financial rewards in a short period of time.
Culture: In many parts of the world, including India, work is seen to help teach children the skills they will need as adults. Working to support loved ones also provides children with a role within the family and a sense of self-esteem.
Vulnerable Situations: The more vulnerable a family is or a child becomes, the more likely it is that a child will set of for the workplace. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has produced huge numbers of orphans and seriously eroded the working population. Natural disasters can also increase the vulnerability of families, making it necessary for children to work to help the family.
Demand for Child Labour: In many countries the high demand for unskilled and poorly paid workers translates into high economic demand for child labour.
Link(s):
http://www.childlineindia.org.in/child-labour-india.htm
http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/assets/doc/Spotlight_on_Child_Labour_in_India.pdf
http://www.friendsofsbt.org/statistics