Majority of employers hiring children for work are aware of the consequences of hazards that the children face, yet they continue to engage children for doing potentially life-threatening work, said speakers at a seminar on Monday. The speakers also said that the employers have very little knowledge on laws related to child labour and policies and its provisions.
Strong monitoring mechanism needs to be in place to make sure that children are not employed in factories for hazardous works, including domestic and transport sector. The above information were disclosed at a seminar on Sharing on Child Labour Situation of Domestic and Transport Sector held at a convention centre in the capital.
With support from ChildFund Korea, Educo is implementing a two-year pilot project entitled “Options for Dignity of Human being by Influencing Key Actors to Reform (ODHIKAR)” in partnership with Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO). Md Mujibul Haque, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Labour and Employment was present as the Chief Guest at the event.
Mujibul Haque emphasized on the importance of attitudinal transformation for preventing child labour. "To eliminate child labour we must start from our own home", he said adding, "Only policy making or law enactment cannot eliminate child labour in Bangladesh, change of traditional mindset of all level of citizens including the policy maker, law enforcer as well as the general people can bring the desired result," he added.
"It is possible to eliminate child labour from Bangladesh within the targeted timeframe if we can give an integral effort through strong legal framework, capacity building and enabling environment," said Azimuddin Biswas, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The project has conducted a baseline study on child labour situation of two targeted sectors, which was shared at the seminar. Sharfuddin Khan, Child Protection Specialist and study team leader presented the findings of the study. Md Azimuddin Biswas, was present as Special Guest. Johny M Sarker, Country Director, Educo Bangladesh presided the event.
The survey had been conducted among 544 child workers from both domestic and transport sector in 15 thanas of Dhaka City including direct intervention areas of ODHIKAR project. Both quantitative and qualitative approach were applied, and triangulated data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources.
The study found that almost all the parents interviewed were unaware about the laws and policies regarding child labour. Although they had a general idea about the negative effects of and general prohibitions on child labour. Of the surveyed respondents 46.94 percent child domestic workers had been subjected to physical injury, 68.49 percent had been subjected to scolding from their employers, 17.14 percent were exposed to physical torture and as a result of these 35.51 percent suffered from mental trauma.
Johny M Sarker asserted that government and NGO partnership can bring about a positive change to the life of child labourers. He expected that the government project of Tk 2.85 billion for the rehabilitation of one lakh child labourers will be started soon. He further hoped that provision of psychosocial support would be considered to bring the child labourers back to normal life.