Parameters of Child Labour

Child labour, which is opposed to childhood, and child education and development, however, should be differentiated from “child work.” The latter is an occasional form of work requiring, at the most, a few hours in a day wherein a child is found working with his/her family enterprise or farm, or even doing some other occasional work. This form of work is acceptable and in fact prepares children for adulthood and even helps in acquiring traditional skills. Opposed to this, however, are the conditions of work where children are found working on adults' Jobs. Under such conditions the work is regular and of longer duration, contains an element of exploitation, the children are overworked, and are deprived of education, even the very childhood. The International labour Office defines conditions of child labour as: (i) working too young, (ii) working for long hours, in some cases 12-16 hours a day, (iii) working under strain, physical, social or psychological, (iv) working on the streets in unhealthy and dangerous conditions, (v) working for very little pay, as little as US$ 3 for a 60 hours a week, etc.

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