‘ Mankind owes to the child the best it
has to give. The child shall enjoy special protection
and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by
law and by other means, to enable him/her to develop
physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially
in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of
freedom and dignity. The child shall be protected
against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation
'.
Government of Pakistan is fully cognizant
of its responsibilities and committed to curtail and
eliminate child labour and takes all possible steps
for the rehabilitation and welfare of child labour.
Suitable provisions for prohibiting the employment
of children, have been made in the constitution of
Islamic Republic of Pakistan; the Factories Act, 1934;
the WP Shops & Establishments Ordinance, 1969;
and the Mines Act, 1923.
In pursuance of the UN Convention on Rights
of Child (UNCRC) adopted by the UN General Assembly
on November 20, 1989 , which has been signed by Pakistan
, Government of Pakistan enacted and promulgated a
special law on child labour namely the Employment
of Children Act, 1991. The Act aims at prohibition
of employment of children in certain occupations/processes
(declared being hazardous in nature) and to regulate
the condition of work in those occupations/processes
which are not of hazardous nature. Employment of Children
Act, 1991 is the latest and special legislation on
the issue of child labour.
The International Programme on the Elimination
of Child Labour (IPEC) launched programmes through
ILO and in collaboration with Federal as well as Provincial
Governments. Such cooperation was also extended to
Government of N-W.F.P which proved a leading effort
for elimination of child labour and due to the awareness
raising drive today various organizations are working
for the cause. A Cell in the name of Child & Bonded
Labour Cell has been established in the Directorate
to oversee the activities carried out on the issue
of child labour and to coordinate with other stakeholders.
Besides, the Employment of Children Act, 1991 is being
implemented and in case of any violation, the defaulters
are prosecuted in the court of law.
The issue of bonded labour (debt bondage)
has also surfaced in the recent past. A Legal Aid
Service Unit (LASU) has been established in the Child
& Bonded Labour Cell to provide legal assistance
to the workers subject to bonded labour under the
veil of debt.
Bounded
Labour System Rules & Regulations (Click here
to Download)
