Children are always compared to flowers and butterflies because of their common virtues like innocence, freshness, and tension-free lifestyle. They are the future pillars of the Nation. However, across the world, millions of children are forced to do extremely hazardous work in harmful conditions. Child labor is the employment of children as wage earners. We should take the necessary steps to eradicate the evil. The International Labour Organization estimated that there were 218 million working children aged between 5 and 17 in 2016. Asia alone had 61% of child laborers. Most children work because their families are poor and the amount earned by them is necessary for survival. Compared to adults, they are cheaper to hire and are less likely to demand higher wages or better working conditions. Illiteracy is also a major cause of child labor problems.
Children are put into the mechanical way of life. Many of them in hazardous jobs are in danger of injury. They are affected physically as well as mentally because of their full-time work at a very early age, excessive working hours, and no access to education. They fail to enjoy the real happiness of nature. As the child laborers are away from the care of the parents, they long for love and affection. Instead of carrying school bags and playing with toys, they are forced to pick sacks and collect wastes. Child labour can be eliminated, by improving school facilities, improving the literary rate, and strengthening the legal system of the country. In all the civilized societies all over the world, ‘child labour’ is condemned as a social evil. Several social service organizations also join hands with the government to take steps to eradicate child labour. The public also helps in reducing child labour by supporting organizations that are creating awareness and providing direct help to individual children.
“Wealth and Children are the adornments of life” – Koran
International Journal of Research (IJR) 