The 8th Sustainable Development Goal, adopted by world leaders in 2015, calls for all to take concrete and meaningful steps to ensure the prohibition and abolition of all types of child labor by 2025 as a necessary step toward ensuring decent jobs for all, complete and stable employment, and equitable and sustained economic growth. In certain parts of the world, child labor is still a big issue. It is estimated that there are about 215 million child laborers in the world, with around 60% (129 million) working in agriculture, including fisheries and aquaculture.
Children participate in a wide range of events in the fisheries and aquaculture industries, including catch fishing and aquaculture, as well as both downstream and upstream operations such as manufacturing, selling, net making, and boatbuilding. In their fishing and fish-farming families and villages, children even help with household chores. This is a big problem since child labor in fisheries is too broadly spread in small-scale and family businesses making hard evidence on the true nature of the issue difficult to come by. As a result, many policymakers find it complicated to address it because of this.
Child labor is used as an inexpensive labor source to reduce fishing costs; not only could this be detrimental to children's development, but it could also have a negative impact on the fishery's survival and the economy. While the ILO Conventions and other agreements include an international legislative mechanism for tackling child labor, many of these tools are yet to be converted into national laws and enacted. Fisheries and aquaculture are an especially underserved industry, with insufficient security for both men and women.
For good outcomes, community recognition is needed. In the informal economy, stakeholder involvement and participation are especially significant. Child labor is combated by (i) prevention, (ii) withdrawl, and (iii) protection:
The most effective strategy for tackling the root causes of child labor and delivering long-term, positive outcomes is prevention. It involves poverty-focused, participatory, and interconnected programs aimed at transforming the virtuous cycle of poverty and child labor into one that leads to long-term growth (see Figure 1). Childcare and schooling must be made appropriate, meaningful, inexpensive, and available, with benefits such as school feeding programs or (in some cultural contexts) separate schools for girls required to ensure that children attend school.
Withdrawal is a life-saving measure that could be used to save and rehabilitate children who are involved in forced labor or other types of child labor. For long-term success, close group engagement and cooperation are essential.
Security for children above the compulsory working age (normally 15–17 years old) leads to better working environments and the transformation of dangerous jobs into opportunities for young people.
Child labour case: Thailand
In 1992, the Thai government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). There have been significant advancements for children since then. However, Children in Thailand have also faced many difficulties. Many children, especially those from ethnic minorities, refugees, and those living in poverty, have missed out on the benefits of Thailand's growth. To respect and support children's rights in the workplace, businesses should amongst many actions primarily:
Contribute to the elimination of child labour
According to Thailand's National Statistical Office (NSO), there are 692,819 working children (6.4 percent) of Thailand's 10,876,275 children aged 5-17, with 312,675 (2.9 percent) in child labor. However, the real number may be higher, as the figure does not include all classes, including migrant children, who are believed to account for a large percentage of child laborers.
Reinforce community and government efforts to protect and fulfill children's rights
In Thailand, access to education is improving, but 14% of secondary-school-aged children are not enrolled. Both children, regardless of their origin or ethnicity, are entitled to attend school under the constitution. Children from low-income families, refugees, and children with disabilities make up the majority of those who are not in kindergarten.
Provide decent work for parents and caregivers
Working conditions for parents have a direct impact on the health, development and survival of workers' children. These actions are yet again explained by figure one.
Why is this necessary?
Without an education, children grow up without the skills they need to secure employment, making it more likely that they'll send their own children to work someday. This cycle must end! Stopping child labor creates a better world for children and adults.
Interested in the topic and want to learn more? Then check out the links below:
SOURCES USED:
Comments