The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered massive supply chain disruptions, job losses and income shocks at the micro-level. This has repercussions on the labour market outcomes not only at the macro-level but also at the micro-level labour supply decisions. This article provides a theoretical model of the impact of such recessionary income shocks on household’s child labour (CL) decision. CL has been a major concern for the developing world, especially for India with its goal towards ‘inclusive growth’. Parental altruism and choice of substituting CL income by their own are endogenous. Interestingly, income shocks have ambiguous effect on CL in general, but they have a clear positive impact on regions with high cost of living. When wages are inflexible, such shocks, depending upon their extent, might be CL-inducing as well as poverty-enhancing. It infers that any in-kind transfer or policies such as mid-day meal that essentially reduces cost of living is always CL-reducing. JEL Codes : J13, J29, D10
This paper will examine literary representations of children as earning members of society against the history of child labour in India, as a means of understanding the relationship between class, labour, nationalism and childhood. It is part of my ongoing attempt to examine formulations of childhood in the Global South as a way of engaging with the concept of ‘multiple childhoods’ and examining their position vis-à-vis global, universal (and, according to scholars like Emer O' Sullivan, Western) paradigms of childhood. In the wake of The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016, the historical and constitutional journey India embarks on is examined, beginning with the Indian Factory Act, 1881, along the path of its nascent nationhood, to The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986 and the subsequent Amendment. The focus is on Mulk Raj Anand's Coolie and Anita Desai's The Village by the Sea as texts which portray two different modes of thinking about labouring children. Applying Viviana Zelizer's definitions of the ‘uselessness’ and ‘usefulness’ of children, my paper studies these two literary representations of useful childhood in India, published at different points in India's journey as a nation, in a political and historical continuum within which the futurity of a young country is embodied by the willing labour of youth.
Child labour presents a pervasive challenge in developing nations, significantly impacting long-term economic growth by hindering the accumulation of human capital. This study utilises data from the China Family Panel Studies to investigate the impact of commute time to school on child labour. The empirical results indicate that a one-hour increase in a child’s commute time to school correlates with a statistically significant increase of 6.3 percentage points in the likelihood of the child engaging in the labour market, as well as an increase of 2.3 hours in weekly working hours. Moreover, the mechanism analysis suggests that longer commute time reduces children’s learning time, resulting in lower academic performance and educational expectations. Consequently, this increases the likelihood of children joining the labour market during compulsory education. These results underscore the need for enhancing transportation infrastructure and optimising school locations in developing nations to counteract child labour by shortening commute times and improving educational access.
A few laws have been passed in India to ensure and advance the rights of children. In any case, child work measurements and different insights point to the fact that these laws have not been extremely powerful. Request and supply powers exist to sustain child work and to keep the economy at a low balance trap. Unless the fundamental causes of child work are tended to, the rights of the child will never be secured. The paper requires an all encompassing way to deal with address the issue of child work and endeavors to give a model of child support arrange that is obvious and available to a child in trouble. The three basic parts of such an approach is (I) to offer help to the bothered families to evacuate their reliance on child work, (ii) an updating of the education system to influence it to react to the requirements of the economy and (iii) a successful child support system that is coordinated with the neighborhood governance structure. These three parts are not to supplant but rather to supplement the current measures.
This research paper critically examines the multifaceted issue of child labour, shedding light on its complexities, evaluating existing legal frameworks, and proposing comprehensive solutions. Focusing primarily on Malaysia, the study navigates through international standards, notably the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (CRC), which unequivocally prohibits economic exploitation and hazardous work for children, emphasizing their holistic development and protection. The analysis encompasses a thorough review of Malaysia’s legislative landscape, including key statutes such as the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966, Sabah Labour Ordinance (Cap 67), and Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Cap 76). This research highlights the gaps in Malaysian laws, particularly the absence of explicit guidelines on work allowed to be done by children. Furthermore, the research situates child labour within the broader human rights discourse, drawing on international instruments like the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The findings underscore the urgent need for holistic solutions that extend beyond legal reforms, such as refining definitions within existing legislation, aligning Malaysian laws with international standards, enhancing enforcement mechanisms, and incorporating explicit provisions on employer responsibilities. The paper advocates for a nuanced understanding of child labour's interconnectedness with broader rights, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to eradicating this pervasive issue, which calls for collective action to create a world where every child is afforded the right to a childhood free from exploitation, ensuring their well-being, dignity, and the realization of their full potential.
Haswaniza Hanafi, Syamirah Rahuman Sadik, Anne Magdalene Pakianathan et al.
Child labour (CL) is a grave issue in India that has been prevalent for decades.Despite various efforts by the government to eradicate this problem, it still persists in many parts of the country.The Indian government has implemented several policies to address the issue of CL, including the CL (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, the National Child Labour Project, and the Integrated Child Development Services.However, these policies face several challenges in their implementation.One of the main challenges faced by the government is the lack of awareness and education among parents and employers about the harmful effects of CL.Poverty, illiteracy, and lack of job opportunities are some of the primary reasons that drive children to work.The government needs to address these root causes to eliminate CL effectively.Another challenge is the inadequate enforcement of laws and policies.Many employers continue to engage children in various industries, such as agriculture, domestic work, and manufacturing, due to the lack of proper monitoring and accountability mechanisms.Despite these challenges, there are some prospects for the future of India's policy on CL.The government has taken steps to strengthen its efforts, including the formation of a National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and a National Child Labour Project.Additionally, the government has increased its allocation of funds towards programs aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating child labourers.The issue of CL remains a significant challenge in India, the government has taken several steps toward eradicating this problem.However, effective implementation of policies and awareness -raising campaigns remain crucial to eliminating CL and providing children with the opportunity to receive an education and a better future.
Future of any nation depends upon on how the nation develop its children, as children are considered to be most crucial and important asset of a nation. Therefore not because of this but also seeing the current scenario the protection of children becomes the most important part nations objective to protect these assets of the nation from the different kinds of exploitation. The exploitation which we are not directed to one area but have taken different forms of it from Sexual Molestation, Child Prostitution to Child Labour, which also highlights about the society we live in, that how incapable we are in protecting our future generations. Still the problem which the author felt is to be first and foremost most important to be dealt by the government is of Child Labour, as unlike other forms of child exploitation is the one where children some time themself decide to go for it; and mostly it is because of the aspect of the existence of poverty at very extreme and other ignored issues. Child Labour is undoubtedly one of the oldest form of child issue in our society which is still an big issue. Started from working in handicraft workshops and agriculture to working in the factories, it was and it is so because that children from very beginning were considered as very profitable asset because they employer doesnt need to pay much to them. We should not let religious & cultural beliefs. Not only physically but also emotionally and intellectually it impacts the development of the child. Hence, therefore considering the different challenges faced by the children, child protection is and in future too should always be the main responsibility of not just government but also society.
Gender equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex are part of the most frequently recognised norms of international human rights law and this is considered the cornerstone of every democratic society, which aspires to hold in its roots, social justice and human rights. Yet still occurring, is the atrocious act of Khafz or Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (herein referred to as FGM) happening across nations. In India there exists no special law that criminalizes this act but we see it being an offence under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. On April 20, 2018, the Central Government of India requested the Supreme Court for directions on how to address the menace of FGM. Simultaneously Public Interest Litigations were filed by those seeking a ban on the practice, the young girls of the Dawoodi Bohra community in India, are presently subjected to. The Dawoodi Bohra Women’s Association for Religious Freedom (DBWRF), who are in favour of the practice, countered by saying that this act is circumcision, not mutilation and is a harmless cultural and religious practice unique to their community. This has sparked a debate throughout the country over the practice of FGM and is now a very important issue that needs to be addressed. This is especially so, as conflicting opinions are seen where the direct and harsh consequences are seen in suffering children and women. In 1993, the Vienna declaration of the World Conference on Human Rights had to explicitly dictate that FGM is a violation of human rights due to how grave of an act it was.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of Somali female students regarding female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred seventeen Somali female students participated in this qualitative study. The data were collected in semi-structured focus group interviews. FINDINGS: It was determined that most (49.9%) of these girls were exposed to type-2 FGM/C. Eighty-eight percent of the girls participating in the study stated that they support the continuation of this practice in future generations. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: For risk groups in Turkey, organizing health education programs, training healthcare professionals in Turkey about FGM/C, and creating awareness are recommended.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to any procedure, which is performed for a nonmedical indication and results in an alteration or injuries to the female genitalia.[1] On a global scale, it has been acknowledged as a serious discrimination and violation of the human rights of girls and women and also reflects the inequality prevalent in the society between the sexes for centuries.[1,2] In fact, recent estimates suggest that on average 110–140 million girls have been subjected to some form of FGM worldwide, and if no active measures are taken, another 15 million girls will have to experience the same by 2030.[1,2] FGM: DISTRIBUTION AND CONSEQUENCES These procedures are generally performed between birth and till the girl child attains 15 years of age, and is quite common in 29 nations in Africa and the Middle East.[2,3] In addition, the procedure is performed in various Asian nations and some of the indigenous groups in Latin America.[2] From the health perspective, these procedures are extremely harmful and generally result in immediate (like bleeding, pain, and infection) as well as long-term complications (viz. urinary tract infections, difficulties in childbearing, infertility, and vaginal tears).[1-3] However, from a human rights perspective, it violates their rights to health and physical integrity, their right to be free from torture-inhuman treatment, and even their right to life.[2,4] SOCIOCULTURAL DETERMINANTS FGM is more of an ancient cultural practice and is being influenced by a large number of individual, economic, socio-demographic, and religious (like an uncircumcised girl is considered dirty) attributes.[1,2] For instance, men in their varied roles in different positions in society can play a crucial role in the continuation or abandonment of the procedure.[5] However, social obligations, the position of men and women in society, and the lack of dialog between men and women are the key hurdles toward the aim of ending this unhealthy practice.[1,2] PREVENTION AND CONTROL MEASURES To facilitate the abandonment of FGM, there is an extensive need for coordinated and systematic efforts, which should essentially engage the whole community, with a primary target of safeguarding the rights of girls and women, ensuring gender equality, and addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of women/girls who are experiencing the adverse consequences of the procedure.[1,3,5] From the legal perspective, most of the nations worldwide have enforced laws, which have made the procedure illegal and by which all the involved persons can be punished.[1] Furthermore, any such completed procedure or any child who is at risk of the same in the future has to be reported to the health authorities mandatorily.[2] Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that by mere enforcement of legislation, the problem cannot be addressed.[1,2] The only effective way to abolish it completely is through a grass-roots approach targeting the education of the community in a culturally sensitive manner and an attempt to make a way out within the existing system of beliefs.[1,2,5] CONCLUSION To conclude, even though the practice of FGM has persisted for hundreds of years, a coordinated and community-based approach can eradicate the problem shortly. Author contributions SRS contributed to the conception or design of the work, drafting of the work, approval of the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to all aspects of the work. PSB contributed to the literature review, revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, approval of the final version of the manuscript, and agreed on all aspects of the work. HGM contributed to revising the draft, approved the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to all aspects of the work. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.
