According to (UNICEF) definition of “Child Labor” ‘some type of work performed by children below age 18’. Generally speaking “Child Labor” is work for children that harms them or exploits them (physically, mentally, morally or blocking access to education).
Desperate conditions press children to earn a living for themselves and for their families without which, their families would not be able to make ends meet. Child labor is very common in Latin America, Africa and Asia, in Pakistan number of working children is estimated to be from 8 to 10 million. World wide this number is estimated to be one in six children.
It is an outcome of a multitude of socio-economic factors and has its roots in poverty, lack of opportunities, high rate of population growth, unemployment, uneven distribution of wealth and resources, outdated social customs and norms and plethora of other factors.
According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) the daily income of 65.5% people of Pakistan is below 2 U.S. dollars a day. The ratio of poverty (less than 1 U.S. dollar a day) in Pakistan is estimated to be 30% to 38% of the total population.
AMRIC Research believes that forcing children to work in any way is not only to destroy the future of an individual but the whole nation and the world at large. The government needs to play a pivotal role in this context. It should take concrete steps for the wellbeing of the people; improve economic conditions of its population.
Awareness must be raised and the attention of parents ought to be diverted to the education of their children. Child Labor Laws should be put into practice strictly. In addition, the educational system of the country-must be reshaped and restructured. The orphans and other deserving children must be helped financially on a prolonged basis.
AMRIC Research provides in-depth analysis in identify the occupations and the categories of work being carried out by children, methods to bring number of children victim of child labor down. It also offers trainings and rehabilitation courses for the children to bring them out of trauma and be an active part of society.