JALAL AZIZ RAHEEL SHAUKAT ASIM JASWAL

Assessment of child labor in Automobile workshops of Rawalpindi and Islamabad

CHILD LABOUR International Labour Organization (ILO) defines the minimum ages for employment as follows; at 13 years, children may undertake light work, i.e. work which will not prejudice a child’s attendance at school. At 15 years, regular work is permissible, whilst at 18 years, or the age of majority if earlier, the child becomes an adult and so able to undertake any form of work.

CHILD LABOUR Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained basis. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON CHILD LABOUR STATISTICS: Globally, 1 in 6 children work. 218 million children aged are involved in child labour world wide 126 million children work in hazardous conditions. The highest numbers of child labourers are in the Asia/Pacific region, where there are 122 million working children. The highest proportion of child labourers is in Sub Saharan Africa, where 26% of children (49 million) are involved in work.

CHILD LABOUR IN PAKISTAN 8–10 million children in Pakistan were employed in various sectors. Rural children were found more likely to be working (28%) than urban children (10%) Working more than the normal working hours Rural children are mostly engaged in the agricultural sector (74 per cent), whereas in urban areas, most working children (31 per cent) are engaged in the manufacturing sector.

CHILD LABOUR LAWS IN PAKISTAN UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) ILO's Minimum Age Convention 138 National Laws Pertaining to Child Labour The Factories Act The West Pakistan Shops and Establishments Ordinance The Employment of Children Act The Bonded Labour System Abolition Act The Punjab Compulsory Education Act 1994

CHILD LABOUR IN AUTOMOBILE WORKSHOPS The largest clusters of workshops can be seen around the bus- stands in Rawalpindi especially Peerwadhai Adda and in different sectors of Islamabad. Motorcycle repair shops are found in smaller places as well. The auto-repair workshops require helping hands. The children assist them in their task, children are treated like apprentices, who are given very little salary, but they learn some useful trade. Children can easily wriggle into limited spaces under the vehicles and do minor work

OBJECTIVES OF BUSINESS PROJECT A detailed report on child labour in automobile workshops in Rawalpindi and Islamabad Explore the main causes of the child labour Impact of child labour on the child The advantages and disadvantages of child labour in business The recommendations would also be given to deduce the child labour in automobile workshops.

BUSINESS PROJECT METHODOLOGY Data was collected using questionnaire. Based on the requirement of the business project three different questionnaires were designed The sample comprised of 35 boys, 10 parents and 15 employers. 23 randomly selected automobile workshops located in Peerwadhai bus stand, Khadda market, I-10 and Ihata mithoo khan in Rawalpindi and Islamabad Respondents were interviewed using a pre-designed questionnaire.

CASE STUDIES Case studies of four working children is also included the business project. Case study Waqas Ahmed Case study Sohaib Safdar Case study Omer Ameen Case study Azhar Ali

DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS Causes of Child Labor Poverty Lack of interest in studies Vacations from school Over population (Family Size) Unemployment of father / Elders Orphans Parents pressure

IMPACTS OF CHILD LABOUR ON CHILD Psychological effects Growth deficiencies and nutrition problems Physical injuries Education Health problems Games & recreation

IMPACTS OF CHILD LABOUR ON BUSINESS Low cost labour Quick learners Obedient and easily controlled Long working Hours Interest Loss due theft and damage Retention

CONCLUSION Poverty is the major factor responsible for child labor Other reasons are lack of interest in education, large family size, unemployment of elders, death of father, harsh attitude of teachers etc. Very harmful effects of child labour on child. Physical as well as psychological impacts Children are often employed because they are much cheaper to hire Other advantages explored during this project are the quick learner, obedient and easily controllable and long working hours etc. The disadvantages which a business can get from child labour are the loss due to damage and theft. Employer of automobile workshops don’t consider child labour a factor in the good will of the business.

RECOMMENDATIONS Government should provide free and compulsory education The poor families should be provided with the financial assistance A comprehensive policy package should be implemented that can increase employment and earning opportunities for adult household members. There should be recreational facilities available in schools. So that children are attracted to go to schools. Teacher should behave fairly with children so that they may not leave school because of teacher’s punishment fear. Immediate action should be taken against those employers who employee under 14 years aged children.

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