Context: Every year 12 June, the International Labour Organization (ILO) combines forces with their constituents and partners all around the world to observe the World Day Against Child Labour.

• With the theme “Let’s act on our commitments: End Child Labour!”, this year’s observance reinforces our collective commitment to eradicate child labour.

• The day also play an important role in fostering environments where every child can thrive, free from exploitation.

World Day Against Child Labour

• Every year on June 12th, the world unites to raise awareness about the plight of child labourers and advocate for child rights. This year’s World Child Labour Day 2024 holds immense significance as we strive towards a future free from child exploitation.

• World Day Against Child Labour 2024 focuses on celebrating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Worst Practices for Child Labour Agreement. It also offers a chance to remind all parties involved in child labour to enhance the implementation of two main conventions – Convention No. 182 and Convention No. 138 about the minimum age for work admission.

• While tremendous progress has been made in the past few years to decrease child labour, recent global trends have reversed, highlighting the urgent need to coordinate efforts to accelerate efforts to abolish child labour in all of its forms.

What is Child Labour?

• Child labour refers to work that is inappropriate for a child’s age, physical or mental capacity, and interferes with their education or development. As per the Indian constitution of Article 24, “No child under the age of 14 years is allowed to work in a mine or factory or involved in any hazardous employment.”

• The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines a child as anyone below 18 years old should not be involved in any hazardous work. Child labour can involve hazardous work, long hours, and exposure to dangerous environments.

• The following are some of the worst practices of child labour as defined by the ILO:

• Slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as trafficking in persons and debt bondage.

• The use of children, particularly girls, in prostitution, pornography, or other illicit activities.

• The nature and circumstances of work is likely to harm the health, safety, or morals of children.

Child Labour in India Statistics

• Number of Child Labourers in India: According to the last available Census 2011, there were 10.1 million child labourers in India. According to the International Labour Organisation, India has the highest number of child labourers in the 5-17 age range in South Asia.

• NCRB Report 2022 on Child Labour: According to NCRB Report 2022, in 2021, around 982 cases were registered under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. The highest number of cases were registered in Telangana, followed by Assam.

• Impact of COVID-19 on Child Labour: According to a study by Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL), there has been a significant increase in Child labour in India. According to a new report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNICEF, the number of children in child labour has increased to 160 million worldwide.

• Biggest Employers of Child Labour In India: India’s biggest child labour employers are- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra,

Causes of Child Labour in India

• Poverty and Indebtedness: Poverty is the greatest cause of child labour in India. For impoverished households, income from a child’s work is crucial for his or her own survival or for that of the household. For ex- Bonded Labour due to Family Indebtedness.

• Adult unemployment and under-employment: High prevalence of adult unemployment and under-employment often force children to work to support family.

• High prevalence of Illiteracy and ignorance of parents: Illiteracy and ignorance of the parents put children under the risk of inhuman exploitation.

• Lack of access to quality education and skills training: Deplorable quality of education and lack of coverage of 15-18 year age group in compulsory education, has led to increase in dropout rates and forced children into child labour.

• Cultural factors: Children often take up family’s traditional work from an early age, contributing to enhancement of Child labour. For ex- A Goldsmith’s son taking to gold-smithery, or a carpenter’s child taking up carpentry from an early age.

• Social factors: India’s differentiated social structure also contribute to child labour. The majority of child labourers in India belong to the marginalised social groups like SCs, STs and the Muslim religious minority.

• Epidemics and Disasters: Natural disasters, conflicts, and pandemics increase the vulnerability of Children towards forced labour, as they forced to work for survival and are often exploited by traffickers and perpetrators.

The current status of Child Labour in India is that the country has made significant strides in reducing child labour over the past two decades. However, the problem persists, especially in rural areas and specific sectors. Here’s a glimpse into the changing landscape:

• Efforts to combat child labour involve a combination of legislative measures, social programs, and grassroots initiatives. 

• Organisations like UNICEF, Save the Children, and local NGOs work to raise awareness, provide education and vocational training, and support families to break the cycle of poverty that often drives children into labour.

• Despite the reduction, millions of Indian children continue to be exploited in various sectors, including agriculture (the highest contributor), domestic work, small-scale industries, and the informal sector.

• So, eradicating child labour in India remains a complex challenge requiring sustained commitment from government, civil society, and international partners. 

Child Labour Status at Global Level

• The global narrative around child labour has seen both progress and setbacks. The following  data is the current Child Labour Status at Global Level:

• There are still 160 million youngsters working as child labourers today. That equates to nearly one in 10 children globally. 

• When it comes to the proportion of children working and the total number of children working (72 million), Africa is in first place among all other areas. 

• In terms of all metrics, Asia and the Pacific comes in second; 62 million children in total are employed as child labourers in this region, which accounts for 7% of all children worldwide.

• These numbers highlight the urgency of international collaboration and renewed commitment to achieving SDG Target 8.7: “End child labour in all its forms by 2025.”

Government Initiatives or Schemes to Prevent Child Labour in India

• The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986: This act prohibits the employment of children below 14 years in hazardous occupations and regulates their work in non-hazardous sectors.

• Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act): This act guarantees free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14, aiming to keep them in school and away from child labour.

• National Child Labour Project (NCLP): Launched in 1988, this project focuses on rehabilitation of child labourers through bridge education, vocational training, and social awareness campaigns.

• PENCIL (People Engaged in Child Labour) Scheme: This scheme provides financial assistance to withdrawn child labourers to support their families and encourage them to stay in school.

• These initiatives have played a role in reducing child labour, but challenges like poverty, lack of enforcement mechanisms, and weak social safety nets remain.

International Initiatives to Prevent Child Labour

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG Target 8.7 is a global commitment to eliminate child labour by 2025. The ILO coordinates efforts among UN agencies and member states to achieve this target. 

• The International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC): This ILO program works with governments, employers, and workers’ organizations to eliminate child labour. IPEC provides technical assistance, promotes research, and advocates for stronger national legislation.

• UNICEF: The United Nations Children’s Fund works globally to protect the rights of children, including efforts to prevent and eliminate child labour. UNICEF supports education, healthcare, and social protection programs aimed at vulnerable children and families.

• International Convention on the Rights of the Child (ICRC): The organisation affirms that every child has the right to be free from financial slavery, to be shielded from labour that could endanger their health and development. Governments must also establish a minimum age requirement for employment and offer suitable work hours and conditions. 

Key Suggestions

• Uniformity in Indian Laws dealing with Child Labour- We must aim to bring uniformity in existing Indian laws dealing with child labour. The laws must expand the definition of a child.  We must also ensure free and compulsory education (RTE, Act, 2009) for children below 18 years.

• Police action in case of failure to register child labour- The 52nd report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has suggested incorporating provisions for taking action against the police for not registering FIRs in the CALPRA Act, similar to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

• Social Protection Schemes- There should be concerted effort towards social protection programmes and cash transfers to improve the economic situation of families and to reduce the “need” to send children to work.

• District-level Funds and National Level Child Tracking Mechanism- The 52nd report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has recommended establishing a district-level fund and National Level Child Tracking Mechanism for immediate relief and rehabilitation for child laborers.

• Raise Awareness- Government with the help of NGOs like Bachpan Bachao Andolan, ChildFund, CARE India, Talaash Association, Child Rights and You should take adequate measures to raise awareness among families and communities. Parental literacy can play an important role in ensuring the rights of children are upheld.

Conclusion

• The World Day Against Child Labour serves as a stark reminder of the millions of children worldwide who are denied their rightful childhood. While there have been significant strides in reducing child labour, the fight is far from over. Governments should enforce laws and regulations to protect children from exploitation in the workforce.