ZCZC
BSS-15
DAY-CHILD-LABOUR (with picture)
Concerted efforts needed to prevent child labour stressed
RAJSHAHI, June 12, 2018 (BSS) – Concerted efforts of all government and
non-government entities has become an urgent need to prevent child labour for
the greater interest of flourishing children’s physical and mental health.
Many children especially coming from the poor and distressed families
suffer from various physical and mental problems due to their engagement in
risky labour. So, all the authorities concerned should come forward and work
together to protect the children from their vulnerable condition.
The observation came at a meeting titled “Divisional Child Labour Welfare
Council” held at conference hall of Divisional Commissioner office in
Rajshahi city today.
The meeting was organized to mark the World Child Labour Prevention Day-
2018. “Generation Safe and Healthy” was the main theme of the day. Local
committee members of National Children Task Force joined the meeting.
Chaired by Divisional Commissioner Nur-Ur-Rahman, the meeting was
addressed, among others, by Additional Commissioner Aminul Islam, Deputy
Director of Divisional Directorate of Health Dr Gopendra Nath Acharya,
Superintendent of Police Abdus Salam, Deputy Inspector General (Current
Charge) of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Kamrul
Hasan and Public Prosecutor of Judge Court Advocate Entajul Haque.
The meeting was told that the government identified 38 child labour-prone
sectors in 2012. Of these sectors, the readymade garment sector and shrimp
industry are currently free of child labour.
The main cause of child labor in the country is poverty. The discussants
viewed that the children are forced to sell labor for life in the age group
of 6 to 7 years due to family and socio-economic reasons.
In most cases children are being involved in various types of work due to
helplessness. Because of that many children can’t go to school. Many children
have to work for their family livelihood.
On the contrary, the employers, owners, and managers and concerned
authorities prefer to engage children at work as they can easily be exploited
to work longer hours with minimum wages.
Commissioner Nur-Ur-Rahman says the present government with dynamic
leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly to
protect the children from risky labour. All the field level government and
non-government organizations to supplement the government endeavor through
contributing to this field.
He favoured for counseling, entertainment, opportunity to study beside work
can ensure a child’s future life beautiful. We need to stop the ongoing
malpractices against the children. More anti-poverty schemes can mitigate the
problem, he added.
BSS/AH/FI/ 1640 hrs