Child Labor in Pakistan - the Ignored Truth on the Pakistani Labor Market

Eyes Wide Shut

Child Labor:

The Ignored Truth on

the Pakistani Labor Market

by Yousuf Zahid

August 2011

yousuf.zahid@live.com

Executive Summary

Skilled or unskilled, an all-adult labor force in Pakistan does exist in the sectors of agriculture, industries and services. Regardless of how implementation and enforcement is carried out in Pakistan, the labor force functions under the rules of the labor policy and all aspects are governed through various legislation that came into being from time to time.

Then why do we continue to use children as part of this labor force and despite knowing the fact that it is the ethically and morally wrong thing to do, why do we close our eyes and not give it the priority it silently screams for?

It is acknowledged that life in Pakistan is very different for the masses. Unemployment and price instability wreck havoc in the life of the common man. But why should the children suffer and be deprived of the time they deserve to spend in school and to learn about life and not get shoved into main stream practical life with forcefulness?

Despite nodding to the demands of ILO, UNICEF and other world bodies which aggressively insist Pakistan to eliminate child labor, the misery continues to exist and flourish. Is it just poverty and lack of education that serves as the barrier or does the psyche of the Pakistani nation needs to be re-engineered? Is there something wrong with the culture of Pakistan that has altered beyond recognition or have the traditions evolved to the extent of fueling selfish mindsets?

There are stories however, which motivate and rejuvenate the spirit, such as the Sialkot success story but approximately 10 million child laborers are still out there in Pakistan.

This paper attempts to connect the dots. They do connect but it appears that the system is going in round circles basically due to lack of sheer will. The problem has been identified. The knowledge to solve it is there. Why the waiting game then?

Contents

Part 1

Problem Statement .............................................................5

Background ......................................................................6

Purpose .....................................................................12

Significance .....................................................................13

End of Part 1 Note ............................................................14

Part 2

Labor Market of Pakistan

A. Labor Market - A Simple Definition? ........................16

B. Labor Rights in the Constitution of Pakistan ...............17

C. Economic Structure of Pakistan .................................18

D. Employment Trends in Pakistan .................................20

E. Labor Force Survey of Pakistan 2010-2011 ...............21

F. Labor Policy of Pakistan 2010 .................................22

G. Labor Unions ...................................................23

H. Curbing Unemployment - Efforts by the Government ......25

I. Facing the Truth ...................................................27

J. The Message from World Bank .................................28

End of Part 2 Note ............................................................29

Part 3

Eyes Wide Shut

K. Enter the World of Child Labor .................................31

L. ILO Convention No. 182 ..........................................32

M. The State-of-Affairs ..........................................33

N. The Child Labor Survey of Pakistan 1996 ........................34

O. The Policy Sayeth ...................................................35

P. But Action, There Is ..........................................37

Q. Just Do It - The Case of Sialkot and Nike ...............39

R. Win-Win Situation; will there ever be one? ...............43

End of Part 3 Note ............................................................44

Even the Root Cause has Roots ...................................................45

Recommendation & Conclusion ...................................................48

Bibliography ..............................................................................49

Part 1

Problem Statement

Is it absolutely imperative for a child to engage in (any kind of) labor and become a bread earner at a tender age, while intentionally or unintentionally missing the typical joys of childhood including innocence and in doing so bypasses the social, moral and birth right to acquire education?

Fact

More than 5,000 children from the age groups of 5-9, 10-14 and 15-17 years are working in the tanneries of Kasur .

Background

An impulsive answer will 'no', 'never' if it is asked of an educated, middle class city dweller to send