“The change starts within each one of us. And ends only when all children are
free to be children.” (Craig Kiel burger)
Child labour is a common thing in the countries which are not well developed yet. It is very popular in all parts of our country. The children are used to render cheap labour in the factories, shops, and business centers. They are also employed at the filling stations, bakeries, hotels, and offices of different firms. Child labour is available in all developing and poor countries.
Pakistan is a poor, backward and underdeveloped country. Its population is on the increase. Poverty haunts one home or other. Poor parents cannot afford to send their children to school for education. Education in our country is very expensive. To meet daily expenses of life, they send their children to earn money. In this way, they add to their income.
In the village, the feudal lords employ children for the cultivation of fields and marketing of their production. They pay to these children a very meagre amount of wages. The children are forced to work in the fields. If they do not cooperate, their parents are punished and beaten by the landlords.
The children are maltreated by the employers. They are abused and insulted if they become a bit careless in their work. They are beaten and punished. They are given very low wages for their work. They are made to work from morning till night. They are kept hungry. They forced to lead a life of pain and sorrow.
In our country, there exist a law against child labour, but it does not operate practically. The children do not get any relief from this law. The labour department is bribed to remain silent about the painful condition of children. The children are bound to suffer.
We can make an end of child labour by acting upon the following steps: -
a) Child labour can be ended when large-scale social and economic reforms take effect in our country. In the first place, the economic condition of the poor people must be made better. Measures should be taken to make an end of poverty. The poor parents do not send their children to school for fear of starvation. They can send their children to school if their economic condition is made better Education for the poor must be made cheap.
b) The feudal system must be abolished. If it happens, the landlords will not employ children to work in their fields.
c) The government should make a law for universal education for everybody. The parents Who ‘do not send their children to school, must be fined and punished? However, they must be given ample resources to lead a good life. Without improving their economic condition, it is not possible to end child labour. To improve their economic condition, they will continue to send their children to work in factories, shops and business center.