Child labour in Sri Lanka and The industrial revolution By:Ana Ralea

My country Sri Lanka is in the northern Indian Ocean, off the southern coast of South Asia

Geography of Sri Lanka -Low, flat rolling plains -Lies on 2 billion year old granite rock -Is divided into 3 different zones

Politics “Presedential representative democratic republic” -This means the president is the head of state and government. -Their civil service structure divides the country into 25 districts, each with its own secretary.

Resources -Plantation agriculture brings in tea, rubber and coconut. -natural resources: gemstones, graphite, ilmente, iron ore, limestone, quartz, mica, industrial clays, salt, titanium, monazite and zircon.

Resources cont. -Peasant agriculture; rice -Best quality black tea in the world -Fishing is an important occupation for people living along the coast

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) -Represents .10% of the world’s economy -Average income per year for an average person is $5,900 -Tea brings in $700 million a year -Gem mines bring in $1.5 billion a year

Cultural groups -Are divided into ethnic groups by language and religion

Sinhalese -Largest group in the country -74% of the population -Speak Sinhala -Buddhist faith

Tamils -18% of the population -Speak Tamil -divided into Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan Tamils -Most of them are Hindu

Muslims -7% of the population -Practice the religion of Islam -Divided into 3 sections; Sri-Lankan Moors, Indian Moors and the Malays

Burghers -Go by European cultures -Christians -0.3% of the population

Population -Total population: 17 million -City populations: 750,000 to 8,000 -Capital city: Colombo: 752,993 -Child labourers: approximately 900,000 (as of 1999)

City workers -Work in construction and transnational factories -Involved in prostitution -Live difficult lives -High suicide rate

Country workers -Pick tea leaves and work mainly in tea crops -Low paid -Have bad housing conditions

Child labourers-Who -90% girls, who work in urban areas -The few boys that work, are mainly in rural areas

Child labourers-Why -Lots of household poverty -1/5th of the population live below the poverty line -Most kids that drop out of school end up as child labourers

Child labourers-Age -There is a law in Sri Lanka stating the minimum age of employment is 14 -Many people disrespect it and most child labourers are under 14 years old -More dangerous jobs are given to kids 14-18 years old

Child labourers-Injuries -Work underground, under water, at dangerous heights, confined spaces and other hazardous areas -Exposed to hazardous substances -Work with dangerous machinery -Noise levels or vibrations can damage health

Child labourers-Working conditions -Physical, psychological and/or sexual abuse -Work long hours during the night -Child is confined to premises of the employer -Left to fend for themselves on the streets of large cities

Child labourers-Jobs -Workers in gem mines; ruby mines mainly -Rural agriculture livelihoods; tea labourers -Domestic workers;Girls working in households as maids and prostitutes

How NGO’s are helping -SAAGN(South Asian Alliance Of Grassroots NGO’s) is working to eliminate child labour in gem mines by bringing the children back to school and supplying them with necessary equipment.

UNICEF -UNICEF is gathering money donations to improve health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation, and child protection in Sri Lanka.

Laws against child labour -In Sri Lanka they have passed laws against child labour stating: *A child can only be employed by a parent or guardian. *They can only work before or after regular school hours.

*Children under the age of 18 cannot work in place that endanger life or limb. *Children under 16 are not allowed to work in underground mines. *Children under 14 are not allowed to work in a shop or office.

Similarities between child labour in Sri Lanka and child labour in the industrial revolution -Both kids have to work because they live in poverty and can’t get a proper education. -Both have really long work hours and are abused by their employers and other adults. -Both are very malnourished because they don’t have enough money to buy food -Both grow up with body deformities and illnesses -Both are exposed to very loud atmospheres with deafening machines

Differences Sri Lanka (2014) England (1800’s) -Many laws against child labour that aren’t obeyed ~Exposed mainly to dangerous places with little room to move -Children are working on farms, mines and as domestic workers ~Both kids and adults are getting paid little to nothing compared to the income of the country -90% of the child labourers are girls England (1800’s) -No laws against the minimal age or how children are treated ~Exposed mainly to pollution and fluff and fiber filling their lungs -Children were working in small spaces to fix machines and other stuff ~Children got paid a lot less than adults -Both boys and girls working, inclining more towards boys