Free the Children from Child Labour

Free The Children from Child Labour: The Disadvantageous of Child Labour Two hundred million children are suffering in the world! “the world has an estimated 186 million child labourers – 5,7 million in forced and bonded labor, 1. 8 million in prostitution, and 0. 3 million in armed conflict” . ( Basu & Tzannatos, 2003, p. 147). In Africa, Asia and the Middle East, a huge number of children are child labourers, and most of them under 14 years old. However, they are working hard as same as adults; they are working long hours every day, and work in harsh, dangerous and harmful conditions.

They can’t have normal lives as other children; they can’t go to school and stay with their families, because they must earn money for themselves and their families. Some of child labourers are even used as collateral for loan; their parents use them to obtain money. Finally, a child labour work as a slave, and no future for him. Child labour already becomes a huge and serious problem, and governments must have a law to protect and free the children from child labour, because it causes children have poor education, be abused, and only can get tiny income.

Child labour has its specific definition. The International Labor Organization defines child labor as work situations where children are compelled to work on a regular basis to earn a living for themselves and their families, and as a result are disadvantaged educationally and socially; where children work in conditions that are exploitative and damaging to their health and to their physical and mental development; where children are separated from their families, often deprived of educational and training opportunities; where children are forced to lead prematurely adult lives. World Education, 2008). Poor education Lots of people think some child labourers who both work and attend school can learn both general knowledge from school and some special skills from their work; even can be successful in their specific area. However, it is totally wrong. Children only lost their opportunities for education, and they can not get any benefits from child labour. According to Rosati and Rossi. (2003). In their article, “children’s working hours and school enrolment: evidence from Pakistan and Nicaragua”, working hours always has negative influence for school hours.

Some people think school hours are only the time that spend in school and it is fixed, but the fact is school attendance is only the minimum fixed mount of time devoted to school. School hours mostly are not fixed; however, since children go to work, the hours spent at work actually took from unfixed school hours. For example, some child labourers often skip classes, so they dropped out because it is not tolerated by school authorities. Also, no time for preview and review classes; no time for homework, so they can not even pass their classes.

Therefore, anytime time spent at work can be used for education, and it must be used for education. Also, child labourers can not learn any professional skills from their work, because most children choose unskilled labour, and they usually working on family farm, bars and restaurants. “The ILO estimates that about 20 percent of the people working in commercial agriculture in Africa are children. ”( Kielland & Tovo, 2006, p. 92). In the article, “child labor in the commercial labor market”, (Kielland and Tovo), (2006), they describe African child labourers working situation in agriculture.

Because, the main income comes from agriculture in Africa, and base on the agriculture system and main crops, people need a huge mount of labours in agriculture. For instance, children can gather some certain kinds of crops such as cotton and coffee. During harvest time, people employ a lager numbers of children as pickers. Another example, child labourers prefer work in bars and restaurants, because they can get general incomes and the working condition is much better than work in field. However, no matter work in farms or restaurants, there don’t have any specific skills can be learned for children.

Thus, child labour only can cause poor education to children, and can not give them any benefits. Be abused People think work doesn’t harm children, but the truth is children sometimes are abused by their employers such as work as slaves and they may get sexual abuse. Children are easy to exploit through manipulation and psychological control mechanisms. They fear of violence and punishment. Also, they are inexperienced in life, so they only can trust adults. Thus, children easily get abuse from employers and are controlled by adults.

For instance, in the coffee farm in Africa, a worker told a boy about a child who tried to escape, but failed. The child was caught and badly beaten. This made the boy afraid and scared. Therefore, fear of punishment make children keep working as slaves for employers. (Kielland & Tovo, 2006). Sexual abuse is really common in African child labourers. It causes some serious problem to children such as HIV/AIDS. Working children get sexual abuse more than non working children. For instance, according to Kielland and Tovo. (2006).

In their article, “child labour in the commercial labor market”, girls work in restaurants longer than boys, and working late hours in a place where alcohol is served. Some girls provide service which is far beyond food and drinks. Because there have no general responsibility for those female child labourers, and people think it is a good way to earn money, girls provide sexual service for their male clients. Thus, child labour harms children so much, and it is damaging to children’s health and physical development. Tiny income

Most people believe if let children work, and they can give a huge help to their families because they can get income from their work. However, children only can earn a tiny income because of their unique and vulnerable position. According to Kielland and Tovo. (2006). In their article, “child labour in the commercial labor market”, a child labour only can get half, a third, or even less salary than an adult’s salary. They work as hard as adults, but they can’t gat a salary same as adults because even they only can get a tiny income they still keep working.

Especially, when a child leaves home along, he doesn’t have any other choices. Sometimes, child labourers can’t even get any salary. For example, if a child be a part of household work, he isn’t paid at all. In Malawi, children help their families work on the land as adjustable labourers during the heaviest time. They help produce tobacco as part of their tenant families, but no payment because they are not employed directly by their families. On the other hand, sometimes, employers may save the salaries on behalf of the children, or they may pay for children at the end of the year.

During this time, if children run away, they may lose all of their salaries. (Kielland & Tovo, 2006). Besides, according to Christiaensen, Demery and Paternostro. (2003). In their article, “macro and micro perspective of growth and poverty in Africa”, let children to participate in household work can not make a change of income for the family. They think “education and access to land emerge as key private endowments to help households benefit from new economic opportunities. ” (Christiaensen, Demery & Paternostro, 2003, p. 317).

Therefore, don’t let children to earn income for family because they only can earn less than a minimum wage or no wages at all. In conclusion, child labour causes children lose their opportunities to go to school; get abuse, both physical and sexual from their employers, and they only can earn tiny wages. Children are vulnerable and they need parents’ protection. Child labour must be ended! Education is the key to ending the exploitation of children. Ending poverty and increasing access to education are therefore crucial tools in the fight against ending child labour.

Also, governments must have law to protect children keep away from child labour, and give opportunities to children to create their future. Every single child has a dream, and let us makes their dreams come true! References Basu, K. & Tzannatos, Z. (2003). The global child labor problem: What do we know and what can we do? The World Bank Economic Review, 17(2), 147-173. Christiaensen, L. , Demery, L. &Paternostro, S. (2003). Macro and micro perspectives of growth and poverty in Africa. The World Bank Economic Review, 17(3), 317-347. Kielland, A. amp; Tovo, M. (2006). Children at work: Child labor practices in Africa. United States of American: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc. Rosati, F. C. & Rossi, M. (2003). Children’s working hours and school enrolment: Evidence from Pakistan and Nicaragua. The World Bank Economic Review, 17(2), 283-295. World Education. (2008, February 4). Child labor and trafficking. Retrieved February 5, 2008, from http://www. worlded. org/WEIInternet/projects/ListProjects. cfm? Select=Topic&ID= 14&ShowProjects=No&gclid=CKawtIe4wo8CFSJAQQodNGapRQ