KARACHI, June 13: “No child should be involved in any kind of labour, be it domestic work or otherwise. Until we understand this, all things such as abuse and other issues associated with child labour will continue to come up,” said Karamat Ali, executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler), at a discussion organised by the Society for Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) to mark World Day Against Child Labour in a hotel here on June 12. “Accepting child labour due to poverty doesn’t solve anything. There is no justification for child labour,” he added. “When children work at places like workshops or factories then they are the state’s responsibility. But looking after their rights in domestic work is the responsibility … [Read more...]
‘Ending child labour is provincial govt’s responsibility’
PESHAWAR, June 12th: The Society for Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc) on June 11 demanded the Khyber-Pahtunkhwa (K-P) government ban child labour under the Employment of Child Act (ECA), 1991. Briefing reporters on the eve of World Day against Child Labour, Sparc Regional Manager Jahanzeb Khan said legislation for child rights fell under the purview of the provincial government following the 18th Amendment. “But nothing has been done in this regard as yet,” he lamented. Khan demanded an increase in the minimum age of employment from 14 to 16 years, in order to allow children to avail their right to education granted by the Constitution. Khan pointed out the last provincial survey on child labour was carried out in 1996, and demanded the government commission a new … [Read more...]
Child labourers at the mercy of employers: Sparc
Karachi, June 11: Children working as domestic aides in households are increasingly dying at the hands of their employers and the government should pay urgent attention to their woes. The recommendation has been made in the annual report of Society for the Protection for the Rights of Child (Sparc) published on June 10 for the World Day against Child Labour, which falls on June 12. The report also recommends an extensive national child labour survey be undertaken to gauge the magnitude of the problem in the country. All stakeholders must be involved in designing the survey to ensure that it adequately addresses all aspects of child labour. The last child labour survey was done in 1996 which estimated that around 3.3 million underage labourers worked in Pakistan. Children … [Read more...]
Report on State of Pakistan’s Children 2012 launched
ISLAMABAD, May 29: The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child on May 28 launched the annual report ‘The State of Pakistan’s Children 2012’. The launch was attended by civil society representatives, government officials and media personnel. The chief guest for the occasion was Federal Minister Sania Nishtar. The report provides a systematic overview of annual developments in various sectors that are relevant to children including child rights, education, health, violence against children, administration of juvenile justice and child labour. In this regard, the report contains a number of recommendations pertinent to each sector to guide policy makers and government functionaries in effectively securing the rights of children. The 2012 report provides a dismal … [Read more...]
Seminar on labour rights discusses manifestos
HYDERABAD, May 10: Candidates of different parties contesting the general elections have pledged to double wages of labourers, especially for those who are associated with brick-making in the district, and implement all labour laws. They were speaking at a seminar on “Political parties’ manifesto and labour rights” organised by Society for Protection of Rights of the Child (Sparc) in Tando Hyder to mark the Labour Day on May 8 night. PML-F’s candidate for PS-50 Makhdoom Shahbuddin Shah Hussaini said his party’s manifesto envisaged free education up to class-XII, free medical treatment and basic facilities. He said he was not imported in the constituency; he belonged to the same area. His party had rejected the LG system, he said, adding that Pakistan was united if Sindh … [Read more...]