THE world rightly sees child domestic workers as modern slaves, while domestic labour is categorised as informal work, or invisible labour. In July 2022, a qualitative study by the International Labour Organisation revealed that one in every four Pakistani households employs a minor, showing a predominance of girls from 10 to 14 years in our domestic workforce. Over 264,000 children in the country were serving as domestic employees. The picture now is darker still: the Sindh Child Labour Survey 2022-2024 found that over 1.6m minors, between five and 17 years, were trapped in this scourge in the province. This is largely because ambiguous legislations have stood in the way of crafting the definition of a ‘child’. In the absence of clear-cut rules that protect their liberties, and ensure minors’ rights, our children’s exposure to abuse remains at a shameful high.

Child labour is the consequence of poverty. In fact, its presence in Pakistan correlates with severe socioeconomic compulsions, such as poverty, poor access to education and a frail justice system. But this does not mean that the lack of will to pass laws to secure young labourers and punish violators can persist. Some estimates in 2022 stated that Pakistan had the third-highest number of child workers in the world. Experts believe that over the past two decades, the menace has witnessed a four-fold rise. It is time the government realised that the need for an authentic databank is crucial. For this, relevant provincial and federal sectors should be mobilised, along with an enhanced police force that is trained to identify a child’s exploitation. Only a cultural shift, driven by collective sensitivity towards child privileges, along with a robust health and education infrastructure, can salvage Pakistan’s human rights profile. Signing international treaties — such as the ILO conventions — without carrying out the responsibilities outlined therein means a fragile future generation.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2025