The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines child labour as work which is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and which interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school or obliging them to leave school prematurely.

The prevalence of child labour is higher in low-income countries, due to much higher poverty levels. According to the UNICEF 2017 report, in the world’s poorest countries, 25% of children (between the ages of 5-17) are engaged in labour, which is considered detrimental to their health and development.

Forms of Child Labour in Pakistan

Different forms of child labour exist at multiple levels in Pakistan, adversely affecting children.

Slavery is where a person is “owned” (sic) and made to work against his/her will. He/she is not allowed to leave or to refuse to work, and is generally held by being kidnapped, captured or purchased, or trafficked, or bonded.

Serfdom is when a person is forced to live and work on land belonging to another person, often with little or no pay. Serfs are also known as farm tenants or tenant farmers.

Forced labour is when someone is made to work against her/his wishes, e.g. children in armed conflicts.

Debt bondage/Bonded labour is forced labour, where work is exchanged to pay off loans that people cannot repay with money or goods. Usually, poor families hand over their children to pay off their debt, and such children are forced to work for years until the debt is cleared. This can sometimes take a lifetime, or may even extend to successive generations born into modern day slavery.

Child trafficking is the illegal trading (buying, selling and movement) of children for labour, prostitution, sexual exploitation (e.g. pornography) or as beggars or street vendors.

Hazardous Work is one of the worst forms of child labour, in which children work in a dangerous environment that can cause harm to their wellbeing in many ways. For example, children working inside mines are at serious risk of injury from tunnel collapses or accidental explosions.

Domestic Work is where children (especially girls) are employed in private households for domestic work (CDL). Although domestic work is not included in the category of hazardous work, but the children engaged in this labour remain at high risk of multiple harm like physical, mental, emotional and child sexual abuse, rape, violence, torture, maltreatment, malnutrition, starvation, exhaustion, exposure to severe weather without appropriate shelter and clothing, all of which can result in serious health conditions, and in some cases even death.

Overview of Child Labour in Pakistan by Sector/Activities

Child Labour – International Conventions, National and Provincial Laws