KARACHI, July 19: The situation of child labour in Pakistan is alarmingly high and this poses a threat to the right to health and education of the children involved. This was stated by the National Project Manager, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Saba Mohsin Raza, while speaking at a one-day workshop titled “Activating Media in Combating Worst Forms of Child Labour in Pakistan” here on Thursday. She quoted the 1996 study by the Federal Bureau of Statistics which put the number of child labour in that year at 3.3 million. In the year 2007, the number has much higher, she noted.

Ms Raza observed that industries like surgical instruments, glass bangles, tanneries, coal mining, deep-sea fishing, carpet manufacturing hired child labour and offered hazardous jobs. The areas where children faced inhuman conditions were scavenging, domestic work, bonded labour and beggary, she said, adding that child trafficking was another matter of concern.

The ILO official was, however, optimistic about the eradication of child labour in Pakistan, saying that the government-ILO partnership could prove very effective. Calling for continued cooperation and commitment in this regard, she said child labour was a challenge to Pakistan and urged all stakeholders and the media to put in joint efforts to meet the challenge for a better future for children.

Other speakers at the workshop, organised jointly by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the ILO for the capacity building of television producers and reporters, also expressed their concern over the non-implementation of laws against child labour and stressed on public awareness of the issue.

Chairman of the Pakistan Workers Federation Mohammad Ahmed said that the child labour was rampant in the industries like carpet and bangle manufacturing. He said though Pakistan was a signatory to the ILO Conventions against child labour, the ground reality painted a bleak picture.

Columnist Javaid Chaudhry suggested that media professionals should observe ethics of journalism while reporting the issues involving children, arguing that protecting a child’s identity in sensitive cases was necessary. He also stressed the need for a continuous interaction among government, civil society and media on child issues, saying that it would be in the best interest of the young generation.

WEBCOP Chairman Ahsanullah Khan said employers could play an effective role in discouraging child labour, and suggested that they should avoid hiring children to save money.

Speaking at the workshop, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information and Archives Syed Hamid Hussain Abidi said the Sindh government was committed to observe the ILO Convention ratified by Pakistan in 2001 and also the 2006 Convention on minimum age of a worker.

He said the government, in collaboration with the ILO and other organisations, was trying to create mass awareness in order to contain the menace. Media, he added, could play an effective role by highlighting the issues relating to child labour.

A large number of TV producers participated in the workshop.