Against the backdrop of the International Day Against Child Labour, annually marked around the globe on June 12 to bring to the fore, problems associated with child labour and to find ways to eradicate the menace, there is need to evaluate its link with insecurity and other societal vices.
The day, which has “Act Now, End Child Labour” as its theme for 2021, is to raise awareness about the harmful mental and physical problems faced by children who are forced into harmful practices.
According to layman’s perspective, child labour is the act of subjecting a minor between five to 17 years of age to forced labour, abuse, assault, capable of triggering psychological trauma.
It also refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful.
However, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) says not all work done by children should be classified as child labour, and be targeted for elimination.
It says children’s or adolescents’ participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling, is generally regarded as being something positive.
This includes activities such as helping parents around the home, assisting in a family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays, as these kinds of activities contribute to children’s development and welfare of families and provide skills to prepare them to be productive members of society.
ILO, therefore, defined child labour as work that is dangerous and deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, interferes with their schooling, obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to combine school with excessively long and heavy work that is harmful to their physical and mental development.
However, child labour could be due to poverty and high unemployment levels in given societies or communities even countries.
While some stakeholders believe it is deliberate in some cultures, some argue that it is situational.
Mrs Sophia Obinor, a primary school teacher in Abuja, blamed the increase in child labour to limited or the lack of access to compulsory, free education.
Obinor explained that child labour is still permissible in states where existing laws or codes of conduct are often violated.
She said “laws and enforcement are often inadequate. National laws often include exemptions and workers’ rights are repressed.”
Mr Suleiman Abubakar of Eagle Eye Security company noted with dismay the increasing violation and abuse of the rights of children.
Suleiman, who vehemently condemned all forms of exploitation, repression and dehumanisation of children, identified insecurity as one of the greatest consequences.
He said majority of the bandits and terrorists threatening the peace of people today in the country are victims of child labour.
Understandably, Richard Wright’s Native Boy is a clear illustration of the consequences of child labour.
Wright’s protagonist, Bigger Thomas, mutated to a beast with utter hatred for the society and subsequent rebellion ventilated through violence and criminality as occasioned by his exploitation.
Mr Ikenna Nwakamma of Nigerian Network of Religious Leaders Living or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (NINERELA+), urged policy makers and stakeholders to rise against child labour to save the society from imminent chaos.
Nwakamma affirmed the ravaging brutality in the society as one of the consequences of child labour.
He said every child who had been subjected to labour would mentally feel insecure, thereby resorting to self help.
He added that “such self help can be armed robbery, cultism, banditry, terrorism, prostitution and many more.”
It is on record that globally, 152 million children aged five to 17 years are in child labour. About half of them, 72.5 million, perform hazardous work that places their health, safety or moral development at risk.
One in five children in Africa is involved in child labour, making it the region where the risk of child labour is greatest.
Half of affected children live in lower-middle and upper-middle income countries and
the problem is prevalent in countries experiencing conflict and disaster.
Dr Okai Aku of Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) said: “child labour is defined by international standards as work that is hazardous or performed by children who are too young.
“Children work because their survival depends on it, because adults take advantage of their vulnerability, and because national education systems are weak.
“Child labour is sometimes the result of some customs and traditions.”
Child labour has been on the increase in Nigeria, especially insurgents-riddled areas where children are internally displaced.
Mr Nduka Arinze, the former Director, Population Management, National Population Commission (NPC), said hundreds of children who have been turned into orphans or internally displaced are subjected to exploitation in the North East.
Meanwhile, ILO estimate shows that the current number of child workers in Nigeria is 15 million, about 43 per cent of the total population of minors.
Child labour can result into extreme bodily and mental harm, and even death.
It can lead to slavery and sexual or economic exploitation. And in nearly every case, it cuts children off from schooling and healthcare, restricting their fundamental rights and threatening their future.
The time to take action against child labour is now, aimed at not only securing the children’s future but restoring hope and love among them.
Consequently, there is the need to increase awareness on what constitutes child labour and for government to promulgate stringent laws and effectively implement them, as well as ensure more children are sent to school.
Other measures are to discourage people from employing children in homes, shops and factories, among others, as well as support NGOs to continue to preach against the practice. (NANFeatures)** If used, please credit the writer, as well as the News Agency of Nigeria
