Sylhet Correspondent :
A large number of children are engaged in hazardous jobs in the Sylhet, but the authorities seem to be either unaware of the critical level of child labour or have turned a blind eye to the issue.
Under-age children are working in motor garages, motor workshops, vulcanising shops, light engineering shops, balloon factories, plastic factories, tanneries and others hazardous factories in the capital and its outskirts.
Children work in such factories for long hours mostly in poor working condition, and they are low-paid and often treated badly by supervisors or owners. Many children are also working as drivers’ aides for bus, truck or human haulers in the Sylhet area.
According to the National Child Labour Elimination Policy-2010, children under the age of 14 cannot be employed in any job while those below 18 can do light work but cannot be employed in hazardous occupations.
The policy has defined individuals under 18 years old as Children. During a visit to a plastic factory, this correspondent found two children under the age of 18 working in a small room with inadequate ventilation. The child labourers told that they have to work for more than 12 hours a day in the factory.
During visits to different motorcycle workshops of the Sylhet, this correspondent talked to a number of child labourers. Many children alleged that they have no fixed working hours and they are deprived of education and entertainment.
Sumon, a 16-year-old worker at a motorcycle garage in Lawai area of South Surma, said he has been working at the bike workshop for the last two years.
“I have to work 12 to 14 hours a day,” he said, adding that they often get injured while working in the motor garage.
Amir Ali, a 12-year old human hauler helper, said, “I have been working as a helper for last one year. I dropped out from primary school as my father could not afford to send me to the school.”
While asked about the risks associated with his job, Amir said, “I have to take the risk as my livelihoods depend on this job. I do not have any other skills to switch to another job.”
Mubarak, 14, who works in a Plastic factory, said, “We work here 12 hours a day and six days a week.”
Abdul Gaffar, Director of ASHO, a non-government organization working for the disadvantaged children, told That “The appalling fact is that children are working for long hours. Most of the time they work 14 hours a day.”
“There are no rules and regulations, no official working hours and no salary structure. Owners pay them as per their wish. They (child) have nothing to say about salary or wage,” he added.
He also pointed out that the children are deprived of education which is the most important factor for their progress in future.
“Earlier, we suggested city corporation’s trade license department not to issue trade license to the factory owners hiring child workers,” he said.
“Besides, we also talked with the factory owners of Lawai. We told them not to recruit any child in hazardous jobs. But if they recruit children, we told them not to engaged them in hazardous work,” he added.
Nazmul Haque, Chairman of FIVDB, told that the latest survey shows that that the number of child labour has increased slightly.
He also said climate-related disasters including river erosion, and cyclone raised levels of poverty, forcing children from education and into the workforce to support their families. He said the government should rehabilitate the families who became destitute due to river erosion and cyclone.
“This will help check child labour as poverty is forcing many families to send their children to work,” he added.
A large number of children are engaged in hazardous jobs in the Sylhet, but the authorities seem to be either unaware of the critical level of child labour or have turned a blind eye to the issue.
Under-age children are working in motor garages, motor workshops, vulcanising shops, light engineering shops, balloon factories, plastic factories, tanneries and others hazardous factories in the capital and its outskirts.
Children work in such factories for long hours mostly in poor working condition, and they are low-paid and often treated badly by supervisors or owners. Many children are also working as drivers’ aides for bus, truck or human haulers in the Sylhet area.
According to the National Child Labour Elimination Policy-2010, children under the age of 14 cannot be employed in any job while those below 18 can do light work but cannot be employed in hazardous occupations.
The policy has defined individuals under 18 years old as Children. During a visit to a plastic factory, this correspondent found two children under the age of 18 working in a small room with inadequate ventilation. The child labourers told that they have to work for more than 12 hours a day in the factory.
During visits to different motorcycle workshops of the Sylhet, this correspondent talked to a number of child labourers. Many children alleged that they have no fixed working hours and they are deprived of education and entertainment.
Sumon, a 16-year-old worker at a motorcycle garage in Lawai area of South Surma, said he has been working at the bike workshop for the last two years.
“I have to work 12 to 14 hours a day,” he said, adding that they often get injured while working in the motor garage.
Amir Ali, a 12-year old human hauler helper, said, “I have been working as a helper for last one year. I dropped out from primary school as my father could not afford to send me to the school.”
While asked about the risks associated with his job, Amir said, “I have to take the risk as my livelihoods depend on this job. I do not have any other skills to switch to another job.”
Mubarak, 14, who works in a Plastic factory, said, “We work here 12 hours a day and six days a week.”
Abdul Gaffar, Director of ASHO, a non-government organization working for the disadvantaged children, told That “The appalling fact is that children are working for long hours. Most of the time they work 14 hours a day.”
“There are no rules and regulations, no official working hours and no salary structure. Owners pay them as per their wish. They (child) have nothing to say about salary or wage,” he added.
He also pointed out that the children are deprived of education which is the most important factor for their progress in future.
“Earlier, we suggested city corporation’s trade license department not to issue trade license to the factory owners hiring child workers,” he said.
“Besides, we also talked with the factory owners of Lawai. We told them not to recruit any child in hazardous jobs. But if they recruit children, we told them not to engaged them in hazardous work,” he added.
Nazmul Haque, Chairman of FIVDB, told that the latest survey shows that that the number of child labour has increased slightly.
He also said climate-related disasters including river erosion, and cyclone raised levels of poverty, forcing children from education and into the workforce to support their families. He said the government should rehabilitate the families who became destitute due to river erosion and cyclone.
“This will help check child labour as poverty is forcing many families to send their children to work,” he added.
