Cost of Child Labour

Besides losing or foregoing the opportunity to get education, enjoying childhood and earning pitiably low, the working children also bear another cost of serious concerns — the health hazards. Physical hazards including boney lesion and postural deformity are attributed to work such as: carpet weaving, embroidery and heavy weight lifting. The eyes of girls doing embroidery work are affected within 5-8 years of work.

Anaemic, fatigued and inadequately slept children are more susceptible to infectious diseases and tuberculosis. Reportedly, half of the 50,000 bonded child labour in carpet industry in Pakistan never reach the age of 12.

Yet another dimension of the cost of child labour is manifested in the form of their vulnerability to; (i) accidents (see for example the fact that numerous children working as conductors in public transport in Pakistan), and (ii) infectious diseases even HIV through sexual contacts (see for example the fate of numerous child cleaners in trucks and children working in restaurants on roadside and bus stops/stations.

Source: Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan: Present Scenario and Future Strategy, Mohibul Haq Sahibzada. Republished with permission.