‘Enforcing child labour laws makes good economic sense’

The federal and provincial governments on Wednesday were urged to ensure strict implementation of laws, rules and regulations regarding child labour in true sense of word in the country.

Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Executive Committee Member Raja Adeel Ashfaq said that child labour and rising crimes of torture against minors were tarnishing the image of Pakistan. Child labour is not only a social issue and against humanitarian ethics but is also directly linked with the external trade of any country as developed world is reluctant to do business with countries where child labour is prevalent, he added.

The LCCI official said that federal and provincial governments have to control the violation of laws, rules and regulations against child labour.

“Child labour is a universal problem and family being a unit of a society has a direct impact on the socio-economic development of the country. Therefore, the best course of action through which it can be tackled is a phased strategy,” he said.

“We have to utilize our all resources to eliminate the issue of child labour as European countries have set strict standards as far as child labour is concerned. However, there is a need to be consistent and much aggressive to root out this problem with least possible loss to the poor,” the EC member said referring to GSP plus status from the European Union to Pakistan

Stressing the need for launching campaigns and projects to eliminate bonded labour through education and other social services, he said that all segments of the society must play their due role in this regard.

He said that child labour was primarily a social problem, but its countrywide prevalence had become a national problem for developing economies. He said that there was no denying that every child deserved to sit in a classroom and get access to modern day education where he or she may enjoy the bliss of childhood.

Raja Adeel said that child labour was not a recent issue, as according to statistics, Pakistan had a population of more than 180 million, of which 43 per cent were children below 15 years of age while more than 60 per cent of the population was living below the poverty line which was one of the biggest reasons of child labour.

He said that International Labour Organization (ILO), federal and provincial governments, chambers of commerce, employers and workers’ organisations should play their due role to address this serious issue.