Child labour and Sri Lanka

We have hit the 100 years of International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2019. But, fight against the child labours is not has coming to end. Firstly, we identify who is considered as child labour. Children, who are deprived of their childhood. They have throwaway education and their childhood for the money. Child labours are mostly engaged to work for winning poverty and starving, Lack of education facilities, Negligence and social irresponsible of ours. Sahan, J. (2015)

As we are Sri Lankans we all afford free education. The government keeps trying to get out people form socio-economy struggle. However, in the current situation, we can point to seeing the children selling the incense sticks in the street sidewalks and selling bunch fruit bags in the main roads. Some of them assist with one elder person, who may be the conductor of the child and that business. We just passing them without asking anything. How many of us spend time with them?

Figure1. courtesy; Ideas in Action Digital tab.

But, the child labours are well prepared for the audience questioning. Sometimes, I tried to interact with them, they had answered escape manner. In North and East of Sri Lanka Tsunami and local war were brought many children to orphanage homes and or growing with guardians. Poverty level was higher than other parts of Sri Lanka. For improvised households, income from the child's works significantly important for the child and their family. The government is accountable for the poverties and child labours.

However, the Sri Lankan government and several INGOs are combined workings in Sri Lanka to reduce child abuse and child labour. Nowadays child labours are slightly changed. Koirala, B. (2020) Likewise, the workplace would be at home. The tasks are given to them as a contractor. Wax matches, crackers, candle making and snacks packaging such productions are kept encourage the child labours and changing their working platforms cannot trace by the law regulations. They were paid by the bulk production has completed in a certain period. For example; wax matches industry mostly non-mechanical product but harmful poison, If the high labour participation adult labour would raise the product price. Moreover, they cannot compete with the market price. So, the industry selectively covers the labours complete family into the production.

Sri Lanka laws define citizens, who below the 18 years old people are coming under childhood. All children must attend school and get education compulsory under the age group of fourteen. In between the 14 to 18 years child may employ to their parents, guardians and family members who are engaged in light agricultural work. However, under the 18 years children cannot work endanger of their life. This was regulation of Sri Lankan law currently in practice. 

"Today's children are tomorrow citizens"

The child labours can be reduced with the proper understanding of the child protection plan. The plan should be a workout from the parents and guardians. Educate the parents about how the importance of childhood for a child. Further, larger families easily enter into the poverty level. Such families could be identified by the government and advisable to health care and integrate family planning. Through this data collection, local authorities can monitor the individual families and make the interconnection with government departments.

However, in Mullativu an incident happened. A family with three schooling children every one under the fourteen years. Father is a fisherman and mother also going to help her husband in work such as she cooking the lunch meal for a group of fisherman and she is earning from it. After school time children directly comes to fisherman cottage at the seashore and they were helping to father and mother at work. For example, doing dry fish making and helping to shore fishing at the heavy open sunlight. Normally such works come under experienced skilled adult labour. The children helped the father and mother to go home early.

Figure2, courtesy; Wikipedia

Information received to Labour department office at Mullaitivu. Child labours are performing at fishing. Then officers came and caught when in action and file the legal case against the parents.  But parents are opposed that, children were not at doing as work. They just helped them even the were not receiving the cash or reward in regards. But, the court warned the parents If it's happened again and again children will be transferred to child rehabilitation. (source; Deputy Commissioner of Labour Department - Mullaitivu).

So, this case when the father and mother not at home, children were being in-home is typically dangerous to them. Somehow being with father and mother just helping them it seems normal practice. 

However underage child was working is offensive and punishable. If the government has less concern in the subject of the child labour, that may lead to spoiling country's future. Because of only education can be given better knowledge to people.

Furthermore, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stepped up against child labour. They have strategically planned not to import stuff, which produced by literal slaves. (source: VICE) This decision directly affects the labour market. So, such a direct decision is lowering the violation of child labour in future.

Thank you.

Reference

Internation Labour Organization, (2019). Child labour, [online]. available at, <http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/child-labour/lang--ru/index.htm>. accessed on 20th January 2020.

Ideas in Action,(2016) Child labour, [online]. available at, <http://englishschoolaz.blogspot.com/2016/05/child-labour.html>. Accessed on 20th January 2020.

Koirala, B. (2020). The Changing form of Child labour, [online]. available at, <https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/the-changing-form-of-child-labour/>. accessed on 22nd January 2020.

Sahan Jayawardana, (2015), Child Labour and Education in Sri Lanka: Combating Child Labour through the Provision of Quality Education. [online] available at,<http://www.ips.lk/talkingeconomics/2015/06/12/child-labour-and-education-in-sri-lanka-combating-child-labour-through-the-provision-of-quality-education/>. Access on 21st January 2020.

Wikipedia, Valvettithurai. [online]. available at,<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Children_with_Fishing_Nets,_Valvettithurai.jpg#/media/File:Children_with_Fishing_Nets,_Valvettithurai.jpg>.Accessed on 26 January 2020.

Bibliography

Department of Labour (2010); Labour legislation. [online] available on; <http://www.labourdept.gov.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=281&lang=en>. accessed on 19th January 2020.

Vice. (2020) [online] available on; <https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/xgqyva/canada-finally-decides-to-make-sure-its-not-buying-stuff-made-by-forced-labour>. accessed on 24th January 2020.

Appendix

Ishany, T. Personel Interview. 25th January 2020.