Tuesday, June 12, 2012
World Day Against Child Labour
So today, June 12th, is World Day Against Child Labour.
Actually, sometimes I walk past a child at work who should clearly not be there, and quite often I don't even blink an eye. It is such a common sight. In Australia, we have so much justice inbuilt in our system. Minimum wages, legal working ages, right to form a union and the like. Not only that, people well know their rights and protection is enforced. I have no doubt that the use of child labour is a hidden issue in my city, although I do not know to what extent. But here in India, there is no need to hide. It is just an accepted fact of life that children need to work to support their families. In fact, (as far as I can tell) the Child Labour Act of India provides guidelines outlining the conditions under which a child under 14 can be employed. And while I appreciate the protections that are offered by this act, the provision of a minimum working age is not one of them. (Surely this can't be right?? If anyone knows otherwise, I'd love to hear about it.) Also, a walk around the city will make one wonder how much the protection that has been legislated is adhered to or enforced.
Yet this is not a black and white issue. If we plucked all the child labourers from their work we would see some (many) families lose a significant source of income. My heart breaks for children that don't have the luxury of education that my children have, and maybe more than that are deprived of the opportunity to simply play and explore. When children are forced into adult worlds, adult responsibilities, adult conversations by virute of being present in a workplace as a child I can't help but lament all the beautiful childhood treasures that will no doubt just go unrealised. But somehow, we have made for ourselves a society that demands cheap products, allowing corporations to be competitive by seeking the cheapest of workers.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children have the right to be protected from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. It also states that primary education should be compulsory and available free to all and encourages the development of different forms of secondary education available and accessible to every child.
As someone who sees child labour so frequently, I'm thankful for the reminder that this is not ok. For those of us who see it so little that we forget that child labour is probably behind a lot of products we possess and consume it is also a wake up call.
For more infomation, start at http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Action/lang--en/index.htm
While I'm sure that this a hidden problem in Australia, the wide, open nature of detrimental child labour here in India is quite a contrast.
Actually, sometimes I walk past a child at work who should clearly not be there, and quite often I don't even blink an eye. It is such a common sight. In Australia, we have so much justice inbuilt in our system. Minimum wages, legal working ages, right to form a union and the like. Not only that, people well know their rights and protection is enforced. I have no doubt that the use of child labour is a hidden issue in my city, although I do not know to what extent. But here in India, there is no need to hide. It is just an accepted fact of life that children need to work to support their families. In fact, (as far as I can tell) the Child Labour Act of India provides guidelines outlining the conditions under which a child under 14 can be employed. And while I appreciate the protections that are offered by this act, the provision of a minimum working age is not one of them. (Surely this can't be right?? If anyone knows otherwise, I'd love to hear about it.) Also, a walk around the city will make one wonder how much the protection that has been legislated is adhered to or enforced.
Yet this is not a black and white issue. If we plucked all the child labourers from their work we would see some (many) families lose a significant source of income. My heart breaks for children that don't have the luxury of education that my children have, and maybe more than that are deprived of the opportunity to simply play and explore. When children are forced into adult worlds, adult responsibilities, adult conversations by virute of being present in a workplace as a child I can't help but lament all the beautiful childhood treasures that will no doubt just go unrealised. But somehow, we have made for ourselves a society that demands cheap products, allowing corporations to be competitive by seeking the cheapest of workers.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children have the right to be protected from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. It also states that primary education should be compulsory and available free to all and encourages the development of different forms of secondary education available and accessible to every child.
As someone who sees child labour so frequently, I'm thankful for the reminder that this is not ok. For those of us who see it so little that we forget that child labour is probably behind a lot of products we possess and consume it is also a wake up call.
For more infomation, start at http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Action/lang--en/index.htm
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3 comments:
Thanks for a thought-provoking post Jane. I do remember a time when Tim and I were trying to sell off some old jewellery and a lady came in and bought some jewellery but was willing to only part with $5 for a piece of jewellery. She asked me if i made it all but I told no and our story. She became very indignant about buying stuff that was made overseas from a southeastern country and their rights. However, she didn't want to pay more than 5 dollars for a piece of jewellery! I do think I am guilty myself of purchasing things because they were cheap. A lot of food for thought....
It is really a tension I feel too. It's hard when we're trying to keep to a budget, knowing that I could get a plain t-shirt at Big W for $5, or buy a fair trade t-shirt for $50. I'd like to say the choice is easy. On many levels it is. But it is also not. I've also done my fair share of bargaining with shopkeepers and itinerent sellers sincle living and holidaying in Asia. The frustrating thing is that even when the system allows the price to fluctuate depending on the bargaining interaction, it doesn't make an ounce of difference to the backroom workers.
It is certainly not a black and white issue!
Very well said Jane. You've helped me to articulate something I also feel and I've re-posted this on my blog which I hope you don't mind. You're first hand experience and response is much appreciated. Thanks for sharing.
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