Eliminating child abour

The best way to eradicate child labour is to ensure that every child goes to school

According to a report published in this newspaper on Wednesday, the mayor of Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) Alhaj Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu emphasised on comprehensive efforts of all stakeholders in eliminating child labour to turn every child into an educated and worthy citizen. We do endorse his view regarding the issue.
Unfortunately in Bangladesh protection against child labour has proved to be difficult to attain due to weak enforcement of laws. Child labour has been a malice that Bangladeshi society has been unable to get rid of. In addition, there also seems to be a certain lack of concern by the authorities whose responsibility it is to ensure that child rights are protected. It is not that Bangladesh does not have laws against child labour. It is, again, a problem of implementation and enforcement. The abuse of these laws is committed by people in several industries but also by those who are aware of the child labour factor in society.
Frequently, pubescent or prepubescent girls are hired by adults as nannies to watch after infants and toddlers. We all know about people hiring children as domestic helps. Unless there is a major crackdown by the government, the courts and NGOs against child labour on those violating child rights, it will be an extremely tricky task to eliminate child labour. This countrywide crackdown needs to occur in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing and service industries where child labour is prevalent.
We believe that the best way to eradicate child labour is to ensure that every child goes to school. Somebody from the school should call on a home from where a child has not been coming to school for some time. There is an even better way of ensuring school attendance: pay poor parents, who have notionally foregone the income of their children, an allowance for sending them to school.
Child labour is a serious crime all over the world. The UNICEF defines child labour as some type of work performed by children below the age of 18. There is something seriously wrong with our country which not only fails to educate all its children but also depends on them to keep its economy afloat. The law says that primary education is compulsory for everyone, but we all know that actions speak louder than words.

Eliminating child abour

The best way to eradicate child labour is to ensure that every child goes to school

According to a report published in this newspaper on Wednesday, the mayor of Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) Alhaj Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu emphasised on comprehensive efforts of all stakeholders in eliminating child labour to turn every child into an educated and worthy citizen. We do endorse his view regarding the issue. Unfortunately in Bangladesh protection against child labour has proved to be difficult to attain due to weak enforcement of laws. Child labour has been a malice that Bangladeshi society has been unable to get rid of. In addition, there also seems to be a certain lack of concern by the authorities whose responsibility it is to ensure that child rights are protected. It is not that Bangladesh does not have laws against child labour. It is, again, a problem of implementation and enforcement. The abuse of these laws is committed by people in several industries but also by those who are aware of the child labour factor in society. Frequently, pubescent or prepubescent girls are hired by adults as nannies to watch after infants and toddlers. We all know about people hiring children as domestic helps. Unless there is a major crackdown by the government, the courts and NGOs against child labour on those violating child rights, it will be an extremely tricky task to eliminate child labour. This countrywide crackdown needs to occur in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing and service industries where child labour is prevalent. We believe that the best way to eradicate child labour is to ensure that every child goes to school. Somebody from the school should call on a home from where a child has not been coming to school for some time. There is an even better way of ensuring school attendance: pay poor parents, who have notionally foregone the income of their children, an allowance for sending them to school. Child labour is a serious crime all over the world. The UNICEF defines child labour as some type of work performed by children below the age of 18. There is something seriously wrong with our country which not only fails to educate all its children but also depends on them to keep its economy afloat. The law says that primary education is compulsory for everyone, but we all know that actions speak louder than words.