Sagar Biswas :
The Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Ministries have taken a joint programme to ensure ‘safe and prosperous future’ for the working children who are now engaged in different risky jobs.
“No children will wander in the street anymore and they will sleep in a good condition at night….. For that reason, the Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Ministries are working together,” Meher Afroz Chumki, State Minister of Women and Children Affairs Ministry, said on Sunday.
Chumki exposed the government’s latest plan following the publishing of a research report where it was said that about 22 per cent children are now engaged in risky jobs and 35 per cent children are deprived of meal or drinking water at their working places.
The heart thrilling information was revealed in a research report, titled: ‘the condition of child labour in unorganised sector,’ conducted by Nielsen Company [Bangladesh] Limited, at a press conference in the city on Sunday.
It said, about 57 per cent children are victims of torture at their working places. Of the child workers, the condition of domestic aids is terrible; where 66 per cent victims go under mental repression and seven per cent face sexual abuse, like rape.
The study was conducted on 600 working class children who are employed in some disorganised sectors in Dhaka City Corporation
‘south and north’, Chittagong City Corporation and Khulna City Corporation.
Of the children, the age limit of 52 per cent was 15-18 years, 44 per cent was 10-14 years and four per cent was 5-9 years. The study was sponsored by Bangladesh Family Planning Department and European Union.
“Forty-five per cent of our total population are children. It is not possible for the government alone to ensure welfare of all children. So, it needs cooperation of different organizations and parents of victims. If we cannot ensure prosperous future for our children, than how could we go to our destination?” Chumki further said while commenting on the report.
Laying emphasis on mass awareness among the parents, she also said, “The parents and guardians have great responsibility. Hope, everybody will work to make the guardians cautious. If we fail to awake the parents, the child labour will never be stopped. “
Meanwhile, the study shows that 79 per cent children are dropped from study before their primary education is finished. These child labourers monthly earn around Tk 1,400 to Tk 5,000 working for more than ten hours daily in different sectors.
Professor of Dhaka University ASM Amanullah presented the research report in the seminar where he pointed out that lowest age of child labour is around 12 years.
In the research paper, he also recommended for taking action against the persons, who engage the children in risky jobs. Besides, terming the poverty as main reason behind labour, he also urged the government to drive out the poverty.
Professor ASM Amanullah also referred some case histories in the report where he described inhuman condition of child labourers. A victim said nobody comes forward to save him when employer starts to beat him mercilessly; whereas a lot of people witness the scene standing like strangers. “The police also do not help us. We are poor and so, we have no place to go anywhere,” the victim said.
Another victim said he does nothing except crying when the employer slaps or tortures him almost every day. About 80 per cent children have no scope to get any overtime, according to the study.
“I urge everybody to inform the concerned ministry officials or Deputy Commissioner if there is any incident of child labour. The hotline number 10921 [which has been introduced to prevent women and child repression] will be published in the text book in the future,” the State Minister further said.
The Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Ministries have taken a joint programme to ensure ‘safe and prosperous future’ for the working children who are now engaged in different risky jobs.
“No children will wander in the street anymore and they will sleep in a good condition at night….. For that reason, the Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Ministries are working together,” Meher Afroz Chumki, State Minister of Women and Children Affairs Ministry, said on Sunday.
Chumki exposed the government’s latest plan following the publishing of a research report where it was said that about 22 per cent children are now engaged in risky jobs and 35 per cent children are deprived of meal or drinking water at their working places.
The heart thrilling information was revealed in a research report, titled: ‘the condition of child labour in unorganised sector,’ conducted by Nielsen Company [Bangladesh] Limited, at a press conference in the city on Sunday.
It said, about 57 per cent children are victims of torture at their working places. Of the child workers, the condition of domestic aids is terrible; where 66 per cent victims go under mental repression and seven per cent face sexual abuse, like rape.
The study was conducted on 600 working class children who are employed in some disorganised sectors in Dhaka City Corporation
‘south and north’, Chittagong City Corporation and Khulna City Corporation.
Of the children, the age limit of 52 per cent was 15-18 years, 44 per cent was 10-14 years and four per cent was 5-9 years. The study was sponsored by Bangladesh Family Planning Department and European Union.
“Forty-five per cent of our total population are children. It is not possible for the government alone to ensure welfare of all children. So, it needs cooperation of different organizations and parents of victims. If we cannot ensure prosperous future for our children, than how could we go to our destination?” Chumki further said while commenting on the report.
Laying emphasis on mass awareness among the parents, she also said, “The parents and guardians have great responsibility. Hope, everybody will work to make the guardians cautious. If we fail to awake the parents, the child labour will never be stopped. “
Meanwhile, the study shows that 79 per cent children are dropped from study before their primary education is finished. These child labourers monthly earn around Tk 1,400 to Tk 5,000 working for more than ten hours daily in different sectors.
Professor of Dhaka University ASM Amanullah presented the research report in the seminar where he pointed out that lowest age of child labour is around 12 years.
In the research paper, he also recommended for taking action against the persons, who engage the children in risky jobs. Besides, terming the poverty as main reason behind labour, he also urged the government to drive out the poverty.
Professor ASM Amanullah also referred some case histories in the report where he described inhuman condition of child labourers. A victim said nobody comes forward to save him when employer starts to beat him mercilessly; whereas a lot of people witness the scene standing like strangers. “The police also do not help us. We are poor and so, we have no place to go anywhere,” the victim said.
Another victim said he does nothing except crying when the employer slaps or tortures him almost every day. About 80 per cent children have no scope to get any overtime, according to the study.
“I urge everybody to inform the concerned ministry officials or Deputy Commissioner if there is any incident of child labour. The hotline number 10921 [which has been introduced to prevent women and child repression] will be published in the text book in the future,” the State Minister further said.
