September 7, 2003

Though child labour is an international problem, in our country it is primarily the byproduct of the lack of consistent commitment on the part of successive governments

SAFDAR is 25 and works in Gujrat. His work, however, is not your every day office job or business, nor is Safdar your every day, normal working man. Natives refer to him as a “chooha” or “rat child,” from the shrine of Shah Daulah. He has a small head and a blank stare, and his “work” is begging on the crowded streets of Gujrat.

Safdar, whose daily wages from begging are approximately Rs. 250, was abandoned by his parents at a young age, apparently left at the shrine because of his medical condition, microcephaly, a disease that is extremely rare. It is caused by brain damage to the fetus during pregnancy, German measles during the first three months of pregnancy, chromosomal disorders, hallucinogenic drugs used by expecting women, or a number of other factors, according to Dr. Haroon Rashid, a neuropsychologist in Lahore.

Microcephaly slows the growth of the brain and eventually results in a child whose body grows disproportionately to his or her head. There is controversy surrounding the shrine as to whether the ‘rat children’ were born with microcephaly or whether their heads were encased in metal helmets to make them look this way.

The shrine of Shah Daulah had many such children for decades, but the controversy surrounding them has led to their dispersion to other parts of the country, where they still beg. Medical doctors claim that there must be some adult abuse on the children’s heads and brains but local government and shrine officials deny it. Dr. Nasir-ud-Daulah, a descendant of Shah Daulah, denied the accusations. “The claim that children are exploited at the shrine is a flight of fancy, and glamorization of journalists. It’s the same old story. They keep harping on about it,” he said.

Child labour and the exploitation of children, including begging, has always been a menace in Pakistan, and though efforts have been made to stamp it out, there has been little or no improvement. In Punjab, a largely rural province with an estimated population of 72.5 million and 69.8 per cent of the population living in rural areas, child labour is at its peak. The literacy rate among women in Punjab, according to the UNICEF, is 16.8 per cent, and that of rural women is 9.4 per cent. More than 42 per cent of Punjab’s population is 14 or younger. The dropout rate among boys from school is an alarming 53.3 per cent and for girls it is an unthinkable 78.8 per cent.

Another child, who is a victim of child labour, is twelve-year-old Ghulam Murtaza, who works in Rasheed Hotel on Mozang Road, Lahore. Ghulam Murtaza has matured far beyond his years. His quiet face is somber. He does not look unhappy or depressed, but there is an aura of responsibility around him, a feeling that he has already lived a large part of his life. He sells chai in this small one-room “hotel” and is one among thousands of children who work in these places.

Ghulam Murtaza’s father was a low-paid lineman for WAPDA who died five years ago, leaving a wife, two daughters and five sons with no means. Ghulam Murtaza was 7 and had to leave school. He and his older brother both left Okara, their hometown, for Lahore. They both took jobs in small street-side “hotels” and have been working since.

“I really wanted to study,” he said, quietly, “but there was no money.” His income is about Rs. 1,500 per month, and he gets two meals a day free, plus tea.

Another boy, 16-year-old Wajid Hameed, who is a mechanic-in-training, said, “My father was a lineman in WAPDA. If he had been an officer, I would have had a chance for a better future.”

This cynicism is not uncommon among boys in Pakistan, where the “right” connections and money seem to often override competence. Wajid studied for six years and ran away from school so often that his parents finally gave up and put him to work at age 12. He’s proud of his income: Rs. 50 per week, plus Rs. 20 for food every day.

To a large extent, child labour is an international problem with global impact. Winifred Poster, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in the United States, has done research in New Delhi and Bangalore (India). She observed the working conditions of labourers in Indian and American multinational electronics companies in these two cities. Poster feels that there are underlying problems in developing countries that intensify the use of children in labour, the most obvious reason being poverty. “It is a family’s decision to send a child to work, and poor families, of course, do not have a lot of choice,” she said. In her research, Poster found that most factories that were unionized did not have many young children employed, because these were usually jobs that guaranteed reasonable salaries. The leftover jobs, that did not pay good wages, were given to young children who were sent by their families to earn money.

“From my perspective,” Poster said,

“The question to be asked is: why does society let this happen?” said Poster. “Child labour laws exist in most countries. Almost all these countries have also signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC), except for the United States.”

Kamila Hyat, joint director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), agrees that child labour is an international problem, but is primarily the byproduct of the lack of consistent commitment on the part of the government. “Many of the steps taken by successive governments are cosmetic, rather than designed to bring real change,” said Hyat. She also feels that alongside this are the socio-economic conditions, a lack of awareness and the poor educational system in the country that play significant parts in prolonging child labour. Hyat thinks that the primary reason, however, is a breakdown of the educational system, in particular government sector education.

An official from the Department of Labour in Washington said that the U.S. Government has no control over American multinationals that have factories in other countries, because they have to abide by the laws of that country. “We have a law in the country since 1930 which prohibits importing of goods made with forced labour and indentured labour. The U.S. government cannot buy these products,” she said.

The official also added that the U.S. Government has been working consistently with governments of other countries in all aspects of child labour. The official refused to comment on the issue of the United States not signing the UN CRC, saying that it was not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Labour.

There are several NGOs and government organizations that are working to eradicate child labour with little success. Insaan Foundation, founded by Farah Malik and Muhammad Mushtaq, imparts fine arts training to street children, along with helping them study for their academic tests. Mushtaq said that people in Pakistan do not take art seriously and consider it frivolous.

Other NGOs like the South Asia Partnership (SAP-PK) and Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) take part in community-based activities by training other people to do the job.

The Government of Pakistan has also collaborated on successful projects like ILO’s program on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO-IPEC) that targets the surgical instruments, carpet making and soccer ball industries in Pakistan. Other plans of action include the National Commission for Child Welfare and Development (NCCWD), which works under the Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education.

Despite all these programs, however, there is no visible result. Mr. Wasim Sajjad, ex-Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, former Chairman of the Senate, and presently leader of the House in the Senate, feels that this is because even though there are laws concerning child labour, they are not implemented. “The government and the private sector have had to respond to tremendous international pressure exerted on Pakistan for its child labour practices by international human rights groups and trade unions,” he said. “The threat of an export boycott on goods that involve children in the manufacture or production processes has existed for some time.”

Muhammad Amin, principal Social Welfare Training Institute, Punjab, said changes need to be made in the way this problem is handled. “I feel the government should empower the Social Welfare department,” said Amin, “laws should be made very strict, NGOs should be encouraged to open education centers for street children and training should be provided to them.”

In the meantime, the Government of Pakistan keeps passing laws and publishing plans of action, and the children of Pakistan keep toiling in sweatshops, working underthe greasy hoods of cars, and weaving carpets in unhygienic, disease-ridden factories.

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