Child Labour in Nepal and Ways to Eradicate it!!!!

Child labour

The UN convention on the Rights of the child defines child as a human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child majority is attained earlier.

Attainment of majority section 2(A) of the Children’s Act 1992 states that every human being below the age of 16 is a child.

The Nepal Citizenship Act (2006) considers a person below 16 to be a minor.

 

The exploitation of children through any form of work that exploit children from their childhood interferes which hampers in their physical and mental development is Child labour.

The worst form of Child labour includes:

· Slavery, children in armed conflict, trafficking etc.

· Sexual exploitation of children

· Involvement in illicit activities (production and trafficking of drugs)

It is widespread in developing countries.

Child labour in Nepal

The Census of Nepal 2011 found the total number of child, aged 5-16 to be 7,978,900 of the total population.

According to ILO, Nepal still acounts for 1.6 million children between ages of 5-17 engaged in child labour out of which 19.7% are engaged in hazardous works.

Kamaiya Bonded Labour in Nepal

It is commonly known as agriculturally based bonded labour system in Nepal.The children work as domestic servants for an employer. Children bonded in Kamaiya system performs domestic chores, take animals to pasture, collect grass and other farm activities. (ILO)

Though the Kamaiya system was outlawed by the government in July 2000, the Kamaiyas still continue to suffer from illiteracy and landlessness.

Causes of Child labour

i. Poverty: According to ILO, Poverty is the most reasonable factor for the prevalence of child labour in Nepal. 18.7% of the people are living below poverty line, due to which families are often forced to send their children to work.

ii. Orphans: Children born out of wedlock, children with no parents and relatives often do not find anyone to support them. So, they are forced to work for survival.

iii.  Tradition of making children learn the family skills: The tradition that children are expected to follow in their parents’ footsteps in a particular trade, and to learn and practice that trade at a very early age is another factor causing child labour.

iv.  Absence of compulsory primary education: Children are meant to learn not to earn. Absence of compulsory education at the primary level encourages the phenomenon of child labour.

v.  Parental illiteracy: People who are illiterate do not send their children to school. Instead of sending them schools, they force them to earn money. Illiterate and ignorant parents’ do not understand the need for the wholesome proper physical, cognitive and emotional development of their child.

vi.   Over population: Over population in some regions creates paucity of resources. When there are limited means and more mouths to feed, children are driven to commercial activities and not provided for their development needs.

vii. Traditions that push poor families into indebting themselves heavily for social occasions or religious events, then relying on their children’s work to pay off the debt.

viii. Implementation of weak laws is also the factor behind child labour.

 

Consequences of Child labour

·  Long term health problems like respiratory disease, variety of cancers among others.

· HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases among those who are forced into prostitution, drug addiction.

·   High illiteracy rate which puts long term economic growth at high risk.

·    Loss of quantity childhood.

Solutions

How can Child labour be completely eradicated?

After more than 6 decades of evolution of The United Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Nepal still faces the high incidence of child labour.

 As per ILO, in an effective strategy to abolish child labour, provision of relevant and accessible basic education is central.

Some of the suggestions that could be implemented to eradicate Child labour are pinpointed as:

·        Providing compulsory primary education that will make them productive.

·        Strict Child labour laws should be enforced and put them into practice.

·        Creating demand for skilled and trained workers which will lead to adult employment as the demand for skilled labour rises.

·        Awareness among the public about severe consequences of child labour.

·        Empowering poor people through knowledge and income generating projects would go a long way in reducing the cases of child labour.

Child labour laws in Nepal

i.                   The Constitution of Nepal in the Article 39 states that:

· No child shall employed in any factory, mine or engaged in similar hazardous works.

·  No child shall be subjected to transported illegally, abducted/kidnapped or taken in hostage.

·  No child shall be subjected to physical, mental or any other form of torture in home, school or other place and situation whatsoever.

The Policies relating to labour and employment in The Constitution of Nepal abolishes all forms of labour exploitation including child labour.

ii.                Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056(2000): Child Labour Prohibition Committee: (1) Government of Nepal shall form Child labour Prohibition Committee in order to provide for health, safety, education, vocational training to children engaged in an enterprise; in order to provide for appropriate employment for children; to discourage to have children involved in works as labour or any risky business.