Saving Childhoods, Bringing Change!

Samir Alam reports on achieving sustainability in the Indian apparel sector by eradicating child labour.

 

Child labour is an abhorrent activity which most nations in the world have deemed to be illegal. The forced employment of children in any form of work has been deemed by the world community as being against human rights. The definition of child labour has been carefully framed to protect children and not disrupt cultural practices unique to different nations. As per international law, work that impinges on the welfare of the child; be it in education, nutrition and safety, is considered illegal and immoral. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has clearly stipulated that work done by children under the age of 15 and any dangerous work done by children under the age of 18, is explicitly illegal. Despite these international laws, the practice and proliferation of child labour has continued to plague nations.

CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA

Current research by the International Labour Organisation estimates that there are over 151 million child labourers between the age of 5 and 17, of which over 72 million are engaged in hazardous work conditions. In total, the estimates go as high as 200 million, making 11 percent of the global child population a victim of child labour. For the Indian apparel industry, these figures are proportionately higher simply due to large scale operations and employment in the industry. With over 40 million directly employed, and 60 million indirectly employed people in the apparel trade, there is clear evidence that a significant number of them are children. The ILO estimates that nearly six million children in India are child labourers, a possible decline from India’s own government census figure of 8.2 million in 2011. But despite the possible decline in India, this problem poses serious threats to not only the social welfare of the citizens but also to the global perception of ‘Brand India’ and its economic sustainability.