New Delhi: Child labour is one of those crucial vices ailing our society, which has forced children to work at an age when they should play and have fun. Hence, to raise our voices and awareness against it, World Day Against Child Labour is observed every June 12. It was started in 2002 by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. The day brings together governments and every other section of the society including the common people to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.
World Day Against Child Labour: Why is it important?
According to the United Nations, around 218 million children worldwide are engaged in labour, many working full-time. However, not all of their works are considered child labour. When children do something which does not affect their personal development, and health and enable them to go to school, it is generally regarded as something positive, like helping their parents in the home or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays. But when the work is detrimental to the development of the child, violates international law, bars them from going to school or makes them do both work and go to school, then it is considered child labour.
Child labour has been steadily decreasing since 2000 but in recent years, conflicts, crises and especially the COVID-19 pandemic have once again worsened the situation. With millions of families around the world, especially those living in underdeveloped regions feeling the heat of extreme poverty, the children are forced to work to bring home extra income. Today, 160 million children are engaged in child labour, which makes it about one in ten children in the world.
Child labour is highest in Africa, with 72 million or one-fight of the total number found in that continent alone. Asia and the Pacific also have a high percentage, with 7 per cent of all children and 62 million in absolute terms in child labour in this region.
Together, Africa, Asia and Pacific regions have around nine out of every ten children engaged in child labour. The remaining population is found in Europe and Central Asia with 6 million, the Arab States with 1 million and especially in the Americas with 11 million. Not just in low-income countries, but the percentage of child labour is high also in middle-income countries or maybe even greater. According to data from the UN, around 84 million children in child labour live in middle-income countries, and on top of that, about 2 million live in high-income countries.
In child labour, children are enslaved and separated from their families. They are exposed to serious hazards at a very early age which can even cause death. The situation is extremely difficult, especially for girls, who have to work, go to school if given the opportunity and then manage household chores which increases their risk of falling behind, making them even more vulnerable to poverty and exclusion.
According to the United Nations, around 218 million children worldwide are engaged in labour, many working full-time. However, not all of their works are considered child labour. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
