‘Don’t employ a child at home’

The launch ceremony of documentary “I have a dream” about the conditions of children who work at homes was organised at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday.
The documentary was directed by human rights activist Samar Minallah with the support of SPARC (Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child) on the plight of child domestic labour and aimed at providing recommendations to eliminate the practice. The 30 minute documentary was shown to an audience that included members of civil society organisations and government departments concerned.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Director Labour Irfan Ullah Khan appreciated SPARC’s efforts to make the research-based documentary working children and said changes in the employment of children act 1991 were required to include child domestic labour in the category of child labour and increase the minimum age of employment.
SPARC Executive Director Arshad Mahmood told the audience how children working at home has a negative impact on children. He spoke about incidents of torture, such as the Shazia Maseeh murder, and said working children needed proper legislation to be protected. He said the current legal framework did not have the provisions to eliminate child domestic labour and the matter had social and political acceptance.
SPARC researcher Amina Sarwer shared findings on child domestic labour. She said that in 2004, data from the five major cities of Pakistan indicated every fourth house was employing a child worker.
SPARC member Imran Takkar said child domestic labour deprives a child from the right to life, the right to physical and mental integration, the right to education, the right to development and is against the interests of children. The ceremony ended with a resolution proposing recommendations to prohibit child domestic labour. It said “cChild domestic labour must be covered in the list of banned occupations under Employment of children Act (ECA). Legislation regulating child domestic labor must be supported by the enforcement of compulsory education laws. Article 25-A of the constitution along with other educational policies should be implemented.”