Child Labor In Pakistan - Doc 03
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Child Labor in Pakistan
It is very difficult to make a precise estimate of the magnitude of child labor in Pakistan on account of numerous limitations basic being a lack of data. The last child labour survey conducted by the government was in 1996. According to the survey, 3.3 million of the 40 million children were found to be economically active on a full-time basis. Of the 3.3 million working children, 73 percent (2.4 million) were boys and 27 percent (0.9 million) were girls. Officially children made up about seven percent of the total work force according to the findings of the survey.
The provincial distribution indicated that the volume of child labor in the Punjab was about 1.9 million; three-fifths (60 percent) of total child labor in the country. The second on the list was NWFP, where about one million children were working. Sindh had a population of 298,000 child laborers. The lowest figure was for Balochistan, 14,000, because of the lesser number of households reporting child labor.
It must be noted that government statistics omitted children those who were working in family and small businesses that are not registered with the government. These official figures were released more than ten years ago and had many loopholes. With approximately 23 million children of school-going age not attending school (SPARC 2009) and population growth nearly 2% annually, the actual number of child laborers will be higher than suggested official figures, and is expected to be over 10 million throughout the country. (HRCP/ SPARC).
Forms of Child Labor
Child labor prevails in many forms in Pakistan. With the formal sector shrinking and informal sector growing, children are seen taking up employment in new occupations. There are many occupations where children’s visibility is high but there are some jobs where children are invisible such as child domestic labor, bonded child labor, agriculture etc.
Of the total number of child laborers in Pakistan, majority of them are employed in agricultural occupations. Their activities include grazing and taking care of animals, collecting firewood, fetching water, spraying fertilizers, cooking and taking care of the siblings etc. According to 1996 child labor survey findings, there were eight times more children working in the rural areas then in urban areas. In urban settings, children are employed in more diversified occupations such as loading and unloading of goods, hotels and restaurants, fishing, auto workshops, rag picking, shoe-shining, begging, etc.
Worst forms of child labor refers to hazardous work that exposes children to physical, psychological or sexual abuse; work underground, underwater, at dangerous heights or in confined spaces; work with dangerous machinery or tools or that includes heavy loads; work in unhealthy environments that may expose children to hazardous substances, temperatures, noise or vibrations; and work under particularly difficult conditions such as long hours, during the night or where a child is confined to the premises of the employer.
During the year 2001 and 2002, the Government of Pakistan carried out a series of consultation with tripartite partners and stakeholders which include relevant government departments (Labor, Social Welfare), Employers, Trade Unions and NGOs. In the process various occupations and categories of work were identified which were considered to be hazardous under the provision of the ILO Convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour No 182. As a result, a list of hazardous occupations was prepared. Initially 29 occupations were listed as hazardous but later more were added.
Child Labor in Carpet Industry
Rugs are among South Asia’s top export product and a high-employment sector for the poor. In Pakistan, young children whose parents take money in advance for their work on carpet looms are victims of a debt-bondage system. Children are paid half the wages of that paid to an adult worker and they are not allowed to leave the premises until the debt is fully paid. Adult workers and employers sexually abuse these children, about a quarter of whom are girls under the age of 15.
A research commissioned by the ILO, in the Punjab in carpet weaving found that there are over 107,000 children (5-14 age group) in carpet weaving including 59 percent girls. Approximately 58,000 children in the 15-17 age group were also working as carpet weavers. Nearly 78 percent of the children weave carpets at home working at an average of 6-8 hours a day. Backache, weak eyesight, joint pains and respiratory disorders are the most common ailments suffered by the carpet weavers. Majority of the families are aware of the health hazards caused due to carpet weaving. Only nine percent of the carpet weaving children attended schools. Over 90 percent said they would send children to school if education was free, and the school timings suited them. More than half of the carpet weaving households reported a monthly income of less than Rs. 2,000 indicating that they were below the national poverty line.
As much as 52 percent of the households were under debt (average debt amounting to about six months of income) and almost half of them borrowed money from carpet contractors to service their accumulated loan. Despite complaints of low wages, two thirds of the households said they would continue weaving carpets. The general opinion of carpet weaving families was that children work to supplement family income was vital. The implication that families would consider combining work and education but not allow withdrawal of children from carpet weaving to pursue full time education was implicitly clear.
According to the survey conducted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in Mohmand Agency and released in April 2006, it was found that school children were being forced into carpet weaving profession. The survey revealed that low finances had forced tribal school children to work for the local carpet industry in a poverty ridden area of Mohmand Agency. Half of them have left the only primary school to earn for their families at Aqrab Dag, an area of Yakka Ghund in the Agency’s lower subdivision.
A small-time carpet-weaving unit started working at a place near Yakka Ghund about one and a half years ago. With the passage of time, the number of machines increased to 50 and the business expanded in the area. Over 300 children aged between 7 and 15 work all day in the small carpet factories. These children are not given daily or monthly salaries instead, every child is paid Rs. 200 to Rs 500, according to his age, after a carpet is manufactured. It takes two to three and a half months to make a carpet and two children work on a carpet along with one expert. Every child gets one meal and tea every day.
The children’s parents told the surveyors that unemployment was on the rise in the area and there was no guarantee that their children would find jobs after they completed their education. They said that they asked their children to learn carpet weaving and stopped them from going to school. The parents said that their children did not receive daily or monthly wages, in return for the work they did in the carpet factories. However, they added, the children learnt carpet weaving within two years and then they could earn money. Surely the future of hundreds of school-going children is at stake.
Child Labor in Glass Bangle Industry
Children in large numbers are employed in the glass bangle making industry. District Hyderabad in Sindh province is known for producing beautiful, creative and high quality glass bangles. Bangles are a much loved ornament worn by women of Pakistan, and in some cultures, bangles is a must for married women. It is a must on festive occasions as well, such as marriages, Eid etc. As such bangles are bought and sold throughout the country and therefore is in high demand.
The glass bangle industry is one of the major economic activity in Hyderabad District and supports close to 30,000 families. Bangle production is concentrated in the urban and semi-urban areas of Hyderabad City. Within the city, the industry is concentrated in Latifabad, Ilayasabad (Nishat Market), Noorani Basti and the old city (Kacha Qila, Makki Shah Road). As most work is carried out in the homes, there are no labour laws applicable in the glass bangle industry and thus there is no labour inspection by the Sindh Labour Department. The wages of young workers are determined by the number of toras (bunch of 300 glass bangles tied together) as opposed to the number of hours worked. In a day an individual may tie together between 25-35 tora, and remuneration for tying one tora amounts to approximately Rs.1.7- Rs 3.4. This means an average salary comes in range of Rs. 1200 to 3500 per month.
The Baseline Survey conducted by ILO during the preparatory phase of the Time Bound Program in 2003 reported deplorable and hazardous working conditions for children working in the glass bangle manufacturing industry in Hyderabad district. These include low wages (approximately Rs. 1,300 per month), long working hours, a high risk of injury, lack of access to medical facilities, inaccessibility to financial resources and alternate employment opportunities. The survey also pointed out that a total of 9, 584 boys and girls below the age of 18 are working in the glass bangle industry in Hyderabad. Children’s involvement in the industry prevents them from accessing their basic human right of acquiring education. The baseline survey also revealed that only 55 percent of the working children surveyed were attending school.
Save the Children UK and Sweden also conducted a study on the prevalence of Child Labour in the glass bangle industry in Hyderabad. Of the total of 509 house surveyed, 255 had two or more children involved in bangle making. Around 117 households had only one child working in bangle work and 137 said none of their children worked in the industry. About 73 percent of the total children were involved in bangle making in one form or another. The survey revealed high percentage of child labour among the communities in Hali Road and Latifabad as opposed to a lower percentage at IIyasabad (56 percent). Children begin work as early as six years of age.
Children working in bangle industry are mostly exposed to open flame; continuous inhalation of fumes from kerosene or natural gas stoves; extreme heat, as the flame does not allow use of fans; working in confined spaces, as the work cannot be done outside due to the flames; potential injury due to lack of protective gear; eye strain and back and joint pains due to sitting in the same position for long hours.
Child Labor in Surgical Industry
The city of Sialkot is famous for the manufacture and export of various items including sports goods, leather apparel and surgical instruments. Surgical industry is one of those industries that require nimble fingers and fast work, only possible from children. Children are involved at different stages of manufacture of surgical instruments.
The Baseline Survey during preparatory phase of Time Bound Program in 2003- 05 reported deplorable conditions for children working in the surgical instruments manufacturing industry in Sialkot district. It found that there are 5,800 children working in the surgical industry for long hours (8-10 hours), six days a week and with no protective gear. Approximately 30 percent of the workers in the surgical industry are child labourers whereas according to the Punjab Welfare Department, children constitute about 15 percent of the work force in the surgical instrument industry in Sialkot. According to a report issued by Public Services International June 1999, the average age of children in the surgical instrument industry is 12.
Child labour still occurs at rudimentary off-site filing and polishing centers run by subcontractors for low-end items. Almost all children working in the surgical instrument industry are male. The main tasks carried out by young boys include; filing, grinding, polishing fitting, cutting, riveting and electro polishing.
Children in the surgical instrument industry are prone to injuries from machinery and burns from hot metal, as well as respiratory illnesses from inhaling poisonous metal dust. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) study revealed high exposure to metal dust, very low level of illumination and high noise exposure in certain sectors.
Personal protective equipment was not worn anywhere. Majority of the child workers (95 percent) reported disturbed sleep, 40 percent reported physical punishment by parents/elders, and 40 percent disliked the work they did. Bedwetting was reported by two percent of working children but none of the control group children, eight percent of working children while none of control group were smokers. 50 percent of children and 40 percent adults reported injuries during work, which included mainly cuts and eye injuries. The basic health indicators (height, weight, pulmonary functions) when compared across the same age groups, were much poor in the working children than the normal children of same age groups. Child labourers were suffering from various diseases: musculo-skeletal disorders like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (40.6 percent); low back pain (82.2 percent) pain neck and shoulders (84.2 percent) and callosities (8.9 percent); skin problems like cuts/bruises/burns, scabies and boils; ear, nose and throat disorders (Rhinitis, tonsillitis); prevalence of conjunctivitis of the eye (due to irritants in the workplace or poor hygiene).
Child Labor in Rag Picking Business
A study conducted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Rag Pickers/Scavengers in 2003 reveals that there are roughly 89,500-106,500 children engaged in scavenging in five major cities of the country i.e. Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Islamabad. The survey identifies three types of scavengers: migratory scavengers, roaming scavengers and site based scavengers.
The Center for Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment (CIWCE) carried out OSH Study, revealing the hazards associated with the rag picking occupation. The average working hours for children were 11 hours daily. Most of the scavengers (60 percent) said that they lived with other adults and child co-workers at places provided by either the contractor or rented. In some cases, 8-10 labourers (children and adults) slept on one bed or floor of a room. Most of the child labourers (95 percent) reported disturbed sleep, physical punishment (19 percent), and 60 percent disliked their work. A sizeable proportion (21 percent) said that they ate food scavenged from the garbage.
Child Labor in Tanneries
During preparatory phase of the Time Bound Program, ILO-IPEC commissioned a Baseline Study in Kasur to determine the extent of child labour in this tanneries sector and to assess options for possible interventions in 2003. The survey identified a total of 717 children, all boys, working in the tanneries in Kasur District. Out of these 333 were in 5-14 years age bracket and 384 in the 15-17 year age group. No girl child was found working in the tanneries in Kasur. The baseline survey also revealed that children start working in the tanneries to help their families. The other significant reason given by the children was the desire to learn a trade. Some children reported that they were pressurized by the family to take up work in tanneries. Other reasons include low performance in schools and the compulsion to work because of father’s death, unemployment or addiction. A significant number of parents reported that their children dropped out of school and started working because they could not afford the cost of schooling.
The CIWCE (Center for Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment) and Labour Department Government of Punjab carried out an OSH in collaboration with IPEC in tanneries. The study revealed that children suffer from disturbed sleep and pain in the lower back, neck and shoulders. They have poor personal hygiene and suffer from eye infections, cuts and bruises, skin diseases, and respiratory diseases. They also showed signs of stunted height and weight. Physical punishment in the work place was common. The children were also exposed to chemicals and suffer from dehydration, abdominal pains and ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders.
Child Labor in Deep Fishing Industry
Gwadar is an important district of Balochistan because of its upcoming sea-port. The district has over 1.8 million population. Fishing is the main economic activity here, followed by agriculture, livestock rearing, farming and government and social services. A large number of children are working in deep-sea fishing, boat-making and processing. These children work with either their fathers or some other family members and learn their family craft. Moreover, children are also supposed to fetch water from community tanks/ponds, collect fuel wood etc. All these tasks that are performed by children are considered as help to their families and not as child labour.
This has an impact on the overall socio-economic conditions of the local communities, especially their education and health status. Most of the health hazards associated with the trade include Musculo-skeletal problems due to manual handling of heavy loads, long working hours and extremely tough routines. The CIWCE’s OSH study revealed that the children suffered from health issues that included; heat stress; lifting heavy weights; odd and long working hours; sleep deprivation; cuts/bruises from handling of nets and equipment ; biological hazards in the form of fungi; diesel smoke inhalation; fuel and lubricant exposure to skin during operation and repair of boats; uncomfortable posture; drowning at sea; high temperatures, weather extremes and substance abuse.
Child Labor in Domestic Service
Child labour in domestic service is very common and acceptable. It may be paid or unpaid work. It takes place in the home and duties include cleaning, cooking, baby sitting and caring among many other small and big chores. Domestic work is predominantly the domain of female child labourers. These children work long hours, do not go to school and many of them are separated from their parents for long periods of time. They often face the risk of sexual and physical abuse from their employers.
A Rapid Assessment (RA) on child domestic labour by SPARC in Islamabad (Capital) and four provincial capitals based on selected localities covering 2,492 households in 2004; reveals that every fourth household in Pakistan employs children for domestic purposes. Majority of these 62 percent were girls. However, there were distinct provincial variations in the prevalence of female child domestic workers. In Peshawar and Quetta, the proportion of girls was lower than in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad/Rawalpindi. The NWFP and Balochistan are relatively conservative regions and do not encourage female mobility and employment.
Many of children interviewed for the research were between ages 6 to10, (27 percent) and 11-14, (42 percent). These children are subject to all forms of abuse; verbal, physical and sexual, many are in debt bondage and many under the camouflage of adoption, deprived of their basic rights. They have no access to education, play and peer interaction. The working hours are long and ill defined with low or no wages. Most of these children are illiterate, and have no alternative livelihood skills; trapped in inter-generational poverty and servitude. These children work under difficult circumstances and are exposed to safety and health hazards. Their jobs are invisible too: domestic work belongs in the informal labour market, is unregistered and does not show up in the national child labour statistics. Domestic child labour adversely impacts on the child’s growth and development. The child suffers from a number of problems that mars her/his personality forever, such as:
a. Respect for identity, selfhood and freedom.
b. Parental nurture and guidance
c. Physical well-being
d. Educational development
e. Psycho-social and emotional development
f. Gross Abuse and exploitation, including sexual exploitation
Child domestic labour is considered as one of the worst forms of child labour worldwide. Despite some interventions and strong recommendations by civil society groups, the Ministry of Labour has been hesitant in including child domestic labour in the hazardous occupations.
Child Labor in Begging Profession
There are two types of child beggars; one who is doing it as a profession and the other is child peddler who begs in order to survive. There is no data that gives the magnitude of the problem. However, there is no doubt that it is huge and growing. One can hardly miss the number of little outstretched hands begging for a rupee or more, boys and girls alike. Time is no constraint, especially for the boys. In many cases, these children are actually working for adults who at times maim and mutilate some of them to get more money from the people. The employer keeps the major portion of the earning. In addition to begging, these children are also easy prey to sexual abuse and exploitation. Children in begging are abused from their childhood, either by parents, members of the family or a third party who hires the child in return for money as a begging tool.
Child Labor on the Streets
Street children are a huge problem in Pakistan. They work in variety of trades such as shoe-shiners, newspapers, magazines and flower sellers, rag- pickers, beggars, waiters, etc. The problem of children living on the street is somewhat different from that of children working in factories and workshops who go home at the end of the day, while street children are on their own and at the mercy of their employers. An estimated 1.2 million children are on the streets of Pakistan’s major cities and urban centers, constituting the country’s largest and most ostracized social group. These include ‘runaway’ children who live or work on the street, as well as the minority that return to their families at the end of the day with their meager earnings. According to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) survey, 72 percent of working children are not in contact with their families and 10 percent have no knowledge of their families.
It is very difficult to make a precise estimate of the magnitude of child labor in Pakistan on account of numerous limitations basic being a lack of data. The last child labour survey conducted by the government was in 1996. According to the survey, 3.3 million of the 40 million children were found to be economically active on a full-time basis. Of the 3.3 million working children, 73 percent (2.4 million) were boys and 27 percent (0.9 million) were girls. Officially children made up about seven percent of the total work force according to the findings of the survey.
The provincial distribution indicated that the volume of child labor in the Punjab was about 1.9 million; three-fifths (60 percent) of total child labor in the country. The second on the list was NWFP, where about one million children were working. Sindh had a population of 298,000 child laborers. The lowest figure was for Balochistan, 14,000, because of the lesser number of households reporting child labor.
It must be noted that government statistics omitted children those who were working in family and small businesses that are not registered with the government. These official figures were released more than ten years ago and had many loopholes. With approximately 23 million children of school-going age not attending school (SPARC 2009) and population growth nearly 2% annually, the actual number of child laborers will be higher than suggested official figures, and is expected to be over 10 million throughout the country. (HRCP/ SPARC).
Forms of Child Labor
Child labor prevails in many forms in Pakistan. With the formal sector shrinking and informal sector growing, children are seen taking up employment in new occupations. There are many occupations where children’s visibility is high but there are some jobs where children are invisible such as child domestic labor, bonded child labor, agriculture etc.
Of the total number of child laborers in Pakistan, majority of them are employed in agricultural occupations. Their activities include grazing and taking care of animals, collecting firewood, fetching water, spraying fertilizers, cooking and taking care of the siblings etc. According to 1996 child labor survey findings, there were eight times more children working in the rural areas then in urban areas. In urban settings, children are employed in more diversified occupations such as loading and unloading of goods, hotels and restaurants, fishing, auto workshops, rag picking, shoe-shining, begging, etc.
Worst forms of child labor refers to hazardous work that exposes children to physical, psychological or sexual abuse; work underground, underwater, at dangerous heights or in confined spaces; work with dangerous machinery or tools or that includes heavy loads; work in unhealthy environments that may expose children to hazardous substances, temperatures, noise or vibrations; and work under particularly difficult conditions such as long hours, during the night or where a child is confined to the premises of the employer.
During the year 2001 and 2002, the Government of Pakistan carried out a series of consultation with tripartite partners and stakeholders which include relevant government departments (Labor, Social Welfare), Employers, Trade Unions and NGOs. In the process various occupations and categories of work were identified which were considered to be hazardous under the provision of the ILO Convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour No 182. As a result, a list of hazardous occupations was prepared. Initially 29 occupations were listed as hazardous but later more were added.
Child Labor in Carpet Industry
Rugs are among South Asia’s top export product and a high-employment sector for the poor. In Pakistan, young children whose parents take money in advance for their work on carpet looms are victims of a debt-bondage system. Children are paid half the wages of that paid to an adult worker and they are not allowed to leave the premises until the debt is fully paid. Adult workers and employers sexually abuse these children, about a quarter of whom are girls under the age of 15.
A research commissioned by the ILO, in the Punjab in carpet weaving found that there are over 107,000 children (5-14 age group) in carpet weaving including 59 percent girls. Approximately 58,000 children in the 15-17 age group were also working as carpet weavers. Nearly 78 percent of the children weave carpets at home working at an average of 6-8 hours a day. Backache, weak eyesight, joint pains and respiratory disorders are the most common ailments suffered by the carpet weavers. Majority of the families are aware of the health hazards caused due to carpet weaving. Only nine percent of the carpet weaving children attended schools. Over 90 percent said they would send children to school if education was free, and the school timings suited them. More than half of the carpet weaving households reported a monthly income of less than Rs. 2,000 indicating that they were below the national poverty line.
As much as 52 percent of the households were under debt (average debt amounting to about six months of income) and almost half of them borrowed money from carpet contractors to service their accumulated loan. Despite complaints of low wages, two thirds of the households said they would continue weaving carpets. The general opinion of carpet weaving families was that children work to supplement family income was vital. The implication that families would consider combining work and education but not allow withdrawal of children from carpet weaving to pursue full time education was implicitly clear.
According to the survey conducted by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in Mohmand Agency and released in April 2006, it was found that school children were being forced into carpet weaving profession. The survey revealed that low finances had forced tribal school children to work for the local carpet industry in a poverty ridden area of Mohmand Agency. Half of them have left the only primary school to earn for their families at Aqrab Dag, an area of Yakka Ghund in the Agency’s lower subdivision.
A small-time carpet-weaving unit started working at a place near Yakka Ghund about one and a half years ago. With the passage of time, the number of machines increased to 50 and the business expanded in the area. Over 300 children aged between 7 and 15 work all day in the small carpet factories. These children are not given daily or monthly salaries instead, every child is paid Rs. 200 to Rs 500, according to his age, after a carpet is manufactured. It takes two to three and a half months to make a carpet and two children work on a carpet along with one expert. Every child gets one meal and tea every day.
The children’s parents told the surveyors that unemployment was on the rise in the area and there was no guarantee that their children would find jobs after they completed their education. They said that they asked their children to learn carpet weaving and stopped them from going to school. The parents said that their children did not receive daily or monthly wages, in return for the work they did in the carpet factories. However, they added, the children learnt carpet weaving within two years and then they could earn money. Surely the future of hundreds of school-going children is at stake.
Child Labor in Glass Bangle Industry
Children in large numbers are employed in the glass bangle making industry. District Hyderabad in Sindh province is known for producing beautiful, creative and high quality glass bangles. Bangles are a much loved ornament worn by women of Pakistan, and in some cultures, bangles is a must for married women. It is a must on festive occasions as well, such as marriages, Eid etc. As such bangles are bought and sold throughout the country and therefore is in high demand.
The glass bangle industry is one of the major economic activity in Hyderabad District and supports close to 30,000 families. Bangle production is concentrated in the urban and semi-urban areas of Hyderabad City. Within the city, the industry is concentrated in Latifabad, Ilayasabad (Nishat Market), Noorani Basti and the old city (Kacha Qila, Makki Shah Road). As most work is carried out in the homes, there are no labour laws applicable in the glass bangle industry and thus there is no labour inspection by the Sindh Labour Department. The wages of young workers are determined by the number of toras (bunch of 300 glass bangles tied together) as opposed to the number of hours worked. In a day an individual may tie together between 25-35 tora, and remuneration for tying one tora amounts to approximately Rs.1.7- Rs 3.4. This means an average salary comes in range of Rs. 1200 to 3500 per month.
The Baseline Survey conducted by ILO during the preparatory phase of the Time Bound Program in 2003 reported deplorable and hazardous working conditions for children working in the glass bangle manufacturing industry in Hyderabad district. These include low wages (approximately Rs. 1,300 per month), long working hours, a high risk of injury, lack of access to medical facilities, inaccessibility to financial resources and alternate employment opportunities. The survey also pointed out that a total of 9, 584 boys and girls below the age of 18 are working in the glass bangle industry in Hyderabad. Children’s involvement in the industry prevents them from accessing their basic human right of acquiring education. The baseline survey also revealed that only 55 percent of the working children surveyed were attending school.
Save the Children UK and Sweden also conducted a study on the prevalence of Child Labour in the glass bangle industry in Hyderabad. Of the total of 509 house surveyed, 255 had two or more children involved in bangle making. Around 117 households had only one child working in bangle work and 137 said none of their children worked in the industry. About 73 percent of the total children were involved in bangle making in one form or another. The survey revealed high percentage of child labour among the communities in Hali Road and Latifabad as opposed to a lower percentage at IIyasabad (56 percent). Children begin work as early as six years of age.
Children working in bangle industry are mostly exposed to open flame; continuous inhalation of fumes from kerosene or natural gas stoves; extreme heat, as the flame does not allow use of fans; working in confined spaces, as the work cannot be done outside due to the flames; potential injury due to lack of protective gear; eye strain and back and joint pains due to sitting in the same position for long hours.
Child Labor in Surgical Industry
The city of Sialkot is famous for the manufacture and export of various items including sports goods, leather apparel and surgical instruments. Surgical industry is one of those industries that require nimble fingers and fast work, only possible from children. Children are involved at different stages of manufacture of surgical instruments.
The Baseline Survey during preparatory phase of Time Bound Program in 2003- 05 reported deplorable conditions for children working in the surgical instruments manufacturing industry in Sialkot district. It found that there are 5,800 children working in the surgical industry for long hours (8-10 hours), six days a week and with no protective gear. Approximately 30 percent of the workers in the surgical industry are child labourers whereas according to the Punjab Welfare Department, children constitute about 15 percent of the work force in the surgical instrument industry in Sialkot. According to a report issued by Public Services International June 1999, the average age of children in the surgical instrument industry is 12.
Child labour still occurs at rudimentary off-site filing and polishing centers run by subcontractors for low-end items. Almost all children working in the surgical instrument industry are male. The main tasks carried out by young boys include; filing, grinding, polishing fitting, cutting, riveting and electro polishing.
Children in the surgical instrument industry are prone to injuries from machinery and burns from hot metal, as well as respiratory illnesses from inhaling poisonous metal dust. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) study revealed high exposure to metal dust, very low level of illumination and high noise exposure in certain sectors.
Personal protective equipment was not worn anywhere. Majority of the child workers (95 percent) reported disturbed sleep, 40 percent reported physical punishment by parents/elders, and 40 percent disliked the work they did. Bedwetting was reported by two percent of working children but none of the control group children, eight percent of working children while none of control group were smokers. 50 percent of children and 40 percent adults reported injuries during work, which included mainly cuts and eye injuries. The basic health indicators (height, weight, pulmonary functions) when compared across the same age groups, were much poor in the working children than the normal children of same age groups. Child labourers were suffering from various diseases: musculo-skeletal disorders like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (40.6 percent); low back pain (82.2 percent) pain neck and shoulders (84.2 percent) and callosities (8.9 percent); skin problems like cuts/bruises/burns, scabies and boils; ear, nose and throat disorders (Rhinitis, tonsillitis); prevalence of conjunctivitis of the eye (due to irritants in the workplace or poor hygiene).
Child Labor in Rag Picking Business
A study conducted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Rag Pickers/Scavengers in 2003 reveals that there are roughly 89,500-106,500 children engaged in scavenging in five major cities of the country i.e. Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Islamabad. The survey identifies three types of scavengers: migratory scavengers, roaming scavengers and site based scavengers.
The Center for Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment (CIWCE) carried out OSH Study, revealing the hazards associated with the rag picking occupation. The average working hours for children were 11 hours daily. Most of the scavengers (60 percent) said that they lived with other adults and child co-workers at places provided by either the contractor or rented. In some cases, 8-10 labourers (children and adults) slept on one bed or floor of a room. Most of the child labourers (95 percent) reported disturbed sleep, physical punishment (19 percent), and 60 percent disliked their work. A sizeable proportion (21 percent) said that they ate food scavenged from the garbage.
Child Labor in Tanneries
During preparatory phase of the Time Bound Program, ILO-IPEC commissioned a Baseline Study in Kasur to determine the extent of child labour in this tanneries sector and to assess options for possible interventions in 2003. The survey identified a total of 717 children, all boys, working in the tanneries in Kasur District. Out of these 333 were in 5-14 years age bracket and 384 in the 15-17 year age group. No girl child was found working in the tanneries in Kasur. The baseline survey also revealed that children start working in the tanneries to help their families. The other significant reason given by the children was the desire to learn a trade. Some children reported that they were pressurized by the family to take up work in tanneries. Other reasons include low performance in schools and the compulsion to work because of father’s death, unemployment or addiction. A significant number of parents reported that their children dropped out of school and started working because they could not afford the cost of schooling.
The CIWCE (Center for Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment) and Labour Department Government of Punjab carried out an OSH in collaboration with IPEC in tanneries. The study revealed that children suffer from disturbed sleep and pain in the lower back, neck and shoulders. They have poor personal hygiene and suffer from eye infections, cuts and bruises, skin diseases, and respiratory diseases. They also showed signs of stunted height and weight. Physical punishment in the work place was common. The children were also exposed to chemicals and suffer from dehydration, abdominal pains and ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders.
Child Labor in Deep Fishing Industry
Gwadar is an important district of Balochistan because of its upcoming sea-port. The district has over 1.8 million population. Fishing is the main economic activity here, followed by agriculture, livestock rearing, farming and government and social services. A large number of children are working in deep-sea fishing, boat-making and processing. These children work with either their fathers or some other family members and learn their family craft. Moreover, children are also supposed to fetch water from community tanks/ponds, collect fuel wood etc. All these tasks that are performed by children are considered as help to their families and not as child labour.
This has an impact on the overall socio-economic conditions of the local communities, especially their education and health status. Most of the health hazards associated with the trade include Musculo-skeletal problems due to manual handling of heavy loads, long working hours and extremely tough routines. The CIWCE’s OSH study revealed that the children suffered from health issues that included; heat stress; lifting heavy weights; odd and long working hours; sleep deprivation; cuts/bruises from handling of nets and equipment ; biological hazards in the form of fungi; diesel smoke inhalation; fuel and lubricant exposure to skin during operation and repair of boats; uncomfortable posture; drowning at sea; high temperatures, weather extremes and substance abuse.
Child Labor in Domestic Service
Child labour in domestic service is very common and acceptable. It may be paid or unpaid work. It takes place in the home and duties include cleaning, cooking, baby sitting and caring among many other small and big chores. Domestic work is predominantly the domain of female child labourers. These children work long hours, do not go to school and many of them are separated from their parents for long periods of time. They often face the risk of sexual and physical abuse from their employers.
A Rapid Assessment (RA) on child domestic labour by SPARC in Islamabad (Capital) and four provincial capitals based on selected localities covering 2,492 households in 2004; reveals that every fourth household in Pakistan employs children for domestic purposes. Majority of these 62 percent were girls. However, there were distinct provincial variations in the prevalence of female child domestic workers. In Peshawar and Quetta, the proportion of girls was lower than in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad/Rawalpindi. The NWFP and Balochistan are relatively conservative regions and do not encourage female mobility and employment.
Many of children interviewed for the research were between ages 6 to10, (27 percent) and 11-14, (42 percent). These children are subject to all forms of abuse; verbal, physical and sexual, many are in debt bondage and many under the camouflage of adoption, deprived of their basic rights. They have no access to education, play and peer interaction. The working hours are long and ill defined with low or no wages. Most of these children are illiterate, and have no alternative livelihood skills; trapped in inter-generational poverty and servitude. These children work under difficult circumstances and are exposed to safety and health hazards. Their jobs are invisible too: domestic work belongs in the informal labour market, is unregistered and does not show up in the national child labour statistics. Domestic child labour adversely impacts on the child’s growth and development. The child suffers from a number of problems that mars her/his personality forever, such as:
a. Respect for identity, selfhood and freedom.
b. Parental nurture and guidance
c. Physical well-being
d. Educational development
e. Psycho-social and emotional development
f. Gross Abuse and exploitation, including sexual exploitation
Child domestic labour is considered as one of the worst forms of child labour worldwide. Despite some interventions and strong recommendations by civil society groups, the Ministry of Labour has been hesitant in including child domestic labour in the hazardous occupations.
Child Labor in Begging Profession
There are two types of child beggars; one who is doing it as a profession and the other is child peddler who begs in order to survive. There is no data that gives the magnitude of the problem. However, there is no doubt that it is huge and growing. One can hardly miss the number of little outstretched hands begging for a rupee or more, boys and girls alike. Time is no constraint, especially for the boys. In many cases, these children are actually working for adults who at times maim and mutilate some of them to get more money from the people. The employer keeps the major portion of the earning. In addition to begging, these children are also easy prey to sexual abuse and exploitation. Children in begging are abused from their childhood, either by parents, members of the family or a third party who hires the child in return for money as a begging tool.
Child Labor on the Streets
Street children are a huge problem in Pakistan. They work in variety of trades such as shoe-shiners, newspapers, magazines and flower sellers, rag- pickers, beggars, waiters, etc. The problem of children living on the street is somewhat different from that of children working in factories and workshops who go home at the end of the day, while street children are on their own and at the mercy of their employers. An estimated 1.2 million children are on the streets of Pakistan’s major cities and urban centers, constituting the country’s largest and most ostracized social group. These include ‘runaway’ children who live or work on the street, as well as the minority that return to their families at the end of the day with their meager earnings. According to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) survey, 72 percent of working children are not in contact with their families and 10 percent have no knowledge of their families.