ISLAMABAD: Speakers at the concluding event of the Asia Regional Child Labour on Thursday highlighted a collective commitment to upholding children’s rights and eradicating exploitative child labour. They urged the participants to pledge not to employ a child at work and home.
The event was hosted by the International Labour Organization and supported by the UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. It convened a diverse array of stakeholders to discuss the significant insights, outcomes, and best practices achieved through the ARC Project in Pakistan.
The event marked the culmination of concerted efforts from 2020 to 2024 aimed at mitigating child labour vulnerabilities and bolstering protections against different kinds of exploitation.
During the proceedings, Officer-in-Charge of the ILO Country Office for Pakistan Guillermo Montt stressed the importance of addressing child labour, affirming that every child deserves a childhood free from toil and exploitation.
He said the recent surveys indicate alarming rates of child labour involvement, affecting as many as 13% of minors aged 5 to 14, perpetuating cycles of marginalization and poverty.
Montt stressed the universal concern for the plight of these minors and urged stakeholders to confront this reality.
As the Chief Guest, Social Development Adviser at the British High Commission Ali Naqvi appreciated the project’s efforts and underlined the necessity of policy adjustments and cultural shifts to safeguard children’s welfare.
Steps Against Child Labour
He advocated for proactive steps, accessible education of high quality, and gender parity as key components in combating child labour.
Regarding policy and legislative endeavors to combat child labour, the project shared the measures such as the revision of hazardous work lists for children in the province of Punjab, the enactment of the Domestic Workers Act in Islamabad Capital Territory in 2022, and proposed amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code to prohibit child labour in domestic settings (supported by the National Commission on the Rights of the Child).
