Child Labor Analysis in the Middle East and North Africa - Case Study Example

Child Labor Report Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Background Information Child labor is involved with children being subjected to work in contradiction to the ILO standards, which is stipulated within the Conventions 138 and 182 (Siddiqi, 2000). It thus means that all children falling below the age of 12 engaged in any economic activities are deemed to be subjects of worst forms of labor practices. It is important to understand that while UNICEF does not in any way condemn children engaged in work since it helps with their health and development progress, it however; does not advocate for works, which interfere with their education system (Siddiqi, 2000). Worst forms of labor involve direct enslavement of children so that they are forced into such illegal activities as prostitution, drug trafficking and also, coerced into illegal trades (Siddiqi, 2000). According to data released by UNICEF, it is estimated that at least 246 million children are subjected to child labor with more than 70%(171M) being directly engaged in hazardous working conditions that includes mining, working with chemicals and pesticides in agricultural-based areas or even handling much dangerous machineries (UNICEF, N,d). Majority of children engaged in child labor are subjected to agricultural sector with millions of girls working as domestic servants, a situation that exposes them to probable exploitation and abuse. Millions of others work under hazardous conditions (Siddiqi, 2000). Regional statistics estimations indicate that Asia and the entire Pacific region contribute the largest number of children workers within the 5-14 age group that is to say, at least 127 million children in total (UNICEF, N,d). In the sub-Saharan Africa, the estimations indicate that over 48 million are directly engaged in the worst forms of labor. It means that at least for every three children one of them below the age of 15 is economically engaged (UNICEF, N, d). Other notable areas for which the vice is practiced in large numbers include; Latin America and the entire Caribbean region as a whole with 17.4 million children subjected to the act while in the Middle East and North Africa account for 15% of those engaged in the heavy working areas (UNICEF, N,d). Current Practices Adopted to Resolve Child Labor There are different perspectives and opinions that have been made in order to curb child labor practices across the world. Some of these practices are discussed as below; First, it is proposed that effective education platforms should be set in place and the system should be made available to everyone. These education services should be made free, compulsory, and attractive to meet the desires of each potential child laborer. It is important for governments across the globe devise frameworks that guarantee a right to education. Both children and their respective parents should perceive school system as a fairer option than economical activities (Sinclair & Trah, 1991). In essence, governments should make it certain for all children to access compulsory education. These governments should conform to international standards like the International Labor Organization (ILO) especially Conventions 132. These governments should formulate laws and penalties in order to successfully prosecute employers that exploit children. The process should be made public so that other potential exploiters re deterred from engaging in the act. A perfect example of this attribute can be seen in Brazil whereby different partners have come together to ensure that children go back to learning facilities while at the same launch crucial activities that complement their respective education prowess and promote both family and societal-based participation. Secondly, the opponents of the act propose that there should be total overhaul in relation to people’s attitudes and practices towards child labor. In most cases, families and entire communities show minimal or no objection to the practice thus facilitating a thriving ground for the flourishing of the vice. In most developing communities, it is perceived that work is far much better and more necessary for young girls to engage in work-related activities as opposed to going to school. Cases of compelled labor might attract intensive misunderstanding on the nature of the contract that sets out child to be bound by their respective employers. The capacity of landowners and employers that are engaged in children exploitation ventures as well as a lack of proper societal disapproval mechanisms of the employers that engage in the vice; mostly act to limit protection for children fundamental rights. In Nepal, UNICEF has resorted to working in order to improve on parent’s level of awareness on the harmful effects of child labor. This is done through the adoption of a Parenting Education Initiative while at the same availing a safer place for children aged between 3 and 5 so that they can enjoy play in community-focused child development units. In the period between 1999 and 2000, there were about 5000 parents and other guiders that directly benefited from the programme (Patrinos & Psacharopoulos, 1995). Third, it is proposed that there should be laws that prohibit activities related to child labor. These laws and regulations should be formulated and imposed on a rigorous manner in order to prevent potential children enslavement. Additionally, the children’s immediate perceptions and viewpoints should be taken into consideration especially in initiatives that are directed towards assisting child laborers access their fundamental rights. In the event that these children propose newer alternatives to hazardous labor then it will be essential to engage them actively as partners in the identification of these viable options for them. Consequently, it is stipulated that the donor nations should improve on the current commitments to protecting children. This can be executed by ensuring that they increase the size of the assistance they should allocate to such important initiatives on basic social services and through formulation of debt forgiveness to such necessary programmes. Creative Strategy Using PMI Framework Learning facilities represent the best option for drawing children more far away from the labor market that exists across the globe. According to ILO (1992) there has been perceived a low correlation of studies enrollment with increased degrees of child used for economic purposes. Having children in schools ensures that they are provided with necessary guidance as well as a chance to comprehend their respective roles within the society as a whole. As a result of this perception, many developed nations continue to insist on the abolishment of child labor and thereafter compelling them to attend school (Ilon & Moock, 1991). However, there is substantial proof to indicate that this technique or rather approach does not always favor their comprehension of roles in schools. First, it is certainly a challenge for these children to attend school in the event that they lack a positive economic change in their situations. It is for the reason that schools should be formulated in a way that portray worthiness for all children to attend so that they can still enjoy the lost earnings (Ilon & Moock, 1991). One fundamental stipulation needed to make this argument viable rests with ensuring that attending school is accessible to everyone through a study-free initiative. Another way is for the schools to ensure that they provide the students with free food supplements. Parents will definitely be compelled to send their children to school as opposed to work since the free food supplements might be seen to be nutritional valuable (Ilon & Moock, 1991). Consequently, the immediate quality of learning within these schools should be always improved in a way that will make schooling portrayed as a crucial aspect in the future success of the learner. On the contrary, immediate elimination of child labor might result to yet another challenge given that there is no level of mutual exclusivity in relation to education and employment of children (Ilon & Moock, 1991). It is important to understand that many students work while at the same time attend school since they need money resources to cater for tuition and other fees that are attributed to attendance. Due to this, it is a completely improper to underline the fact that child labor and school might go hand in hand in most times. To abolish child labor, means that there will be a significant reduction level of educational accomplishment for a certain degree of the population (Ilon & Moock, 1991). In Bolivia, it was established that children that were not in any way employed depicted the lowest level of educational attainment (UNICEF, 1992). In yet another study, it was found out that nearly 20% of children that abandoned school engaged directly with paid forms of employment (Patrinos & Psacharopoulos, 1995). Following this line of reasoning, it is important for different stakeholders to understand that the immediate abolition of child labor is in fact not the proper and effective solution to this menace given that the relationship between labor and education is deemed to be highly complicated that what meets the eye. Of particular interest, children engaged in labor are somehow important to any family set up since they contribute immensely to household income. However, there is importance in letting them engaged in school until they reach a mature age where they can determine what to do with the income they earn. Therefore, school attendance still remains to be a viable option that will help curb the activity as a whole. An action plan to ensure adherence to abolishment of the trade and compel children to attend school involves soliciting for support from different concerned stakeholders especially the government and come up with an effective free education policy that impacts fines on parents that fail to send their children to school. Outcomes of Implementing School-Attendance Strategy As a result of compelling parents and guiders of children to send them to school, there will be increased enrollment in schools. Due to this, the government being the major stakeholder should come up with funds needed for expanding the sector in order to accommodate everyone. The donor groups should also come in handy to provide enough resources especially needed for such other important supplements as free food to the kids. Enough policies and guidelines should be set in place to ensure that these parents are compelled to perceive an education as an important aspect to the future success of their kids. There might be resistance witnessed in the early stages of implementation however; this can be offset by holding meetings with families and communities as a whole to explain to them how the entire paradigm shift will affect their lives positively. References ILO (International Labour Office) (1992). World Labour Report 1992. Geneva Ilon, L & Moock. P. (1991). "School Attributes, Household Characteristics and Demand for Schooling: A Case Study of Rural Peru." International Review of Education 37 (4), 429-452 Patrinos H.A & Psacharopoulos. G. (1995). "Educational Performance and Child Labor in Paraguay." International Journal of Educational Development 15(1), 47-60 Sinclair, V & Trah. G. (1991). "Child Labour: National Legislation on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment or Work." In Conditions of Work Digest (International Labour Office, Geneva) 10 (1), 19-146 Siddiqi, F. (2000). Child labor: Issues, causes and interventions, Human Capital Development & Operations Policy Working Papers. Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/278200-1099079877269/547664-1099079934475/547667-1135281552767/Child_Labor_issues.pdf UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) (1992) Children of the Americas: Child Survival, Protection and Integrated Development in the 1990's. Santa Fe de Bogota, Colombia UNICEF. (N, d). Fact sheet: Child labor. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/child_labour.pdf Read More