There has been conscious and collective efforts to eradicate child labour. International Labour Organization (ILO) has set 2016 as the deadline for the eradication of child labour across the globe. However, figures reveal that this might take some more time to happen. According to the ILO’s 2010 global report on child labour, the number of child labourers had declined 3 per cent globally between 2004 and 2008 (from 222 million to 215 million) which reflected a ‘slowing down of the global pace of reduction’.
It also hinted that the global economic slowdown could ‘further brake’ progress towards its 2016 goal. The gender break-up shows that it decreased by 15 per cent amongst girls but increased by 7 per cent amongst boys. Though the number fell by 10 per cent amongst children between 5 and 14 age group, child labour among those aged 15 to 17 increased by 20 per cent.
It also hinted that the global economic slowdown could ‘further brake’ progress towards its 2016 goal. The gender break-up shows that it decreased by 15 per cent amongst girls but increased by 7 per cent amongst boys. Though the number fell by 10 per cent amongst children between 5 and 14 age group, child labour among those aged 15 to 17 increased by 20 per cent.
Though at a slow pace, millions of children have now taken to pen and pencil. India too has been progressing towards elimination of child labour. It acknowledges that the problem is inextricably linked with poverty and illiteracy and cannot be solved by legislation alone. What started in 1979 when the first panel, the Gurupadswamy Committee was set up to look into the child labour issue and suggest measures, has today become an inter-linked agenda of several ministries such as the HRD. Looking at it as a socio-economic problem, the government today strongly regulates the working conditions where children are not prohibited from working. The wages per manday of child workers was INR 27.57 and INR 30.12 in 2006-07 and 2007-08, respectively. This is much less than the 2000-01 statistics. The most common form of child employment as domestic servants and at small tea stalls and restaurants has been banned in late 2006. Click here to read more...
Like us and read IIPM Think-Tank articles on facebook
