Millions of children in our country are forced to take up dangerous jobs. They are deprived of education and they don’t have the time to play and behave like normal children. This is called child labour, which can damage a child physically and psychologically.

One should understand that child labour is different from child work. Child work can be good for the child, such as delivering newspapers or mowing lawns. Child work gives the child a feeling of responsibility. It teaches him/her a lot of things. It doesn’t damage the child.

Child labour happens all over Pakistan. The worst form of child labour is the one you see at brick kilns where the children inhale dust and where heavy work under very hot conditions takes place. Brick kiln owners recruit entire families for work. Unfortunately, these families get caught in a trap. They are poor and when sometimes they need extra money to support themselves, they can’t go to the bank for a loan because banks only give money to those who can provide some kind of guarantee.

They have no choice but to go to these brick kiln owners for a loan. They can never pay back the loan because they are illiterate and get tricked. These brick kiln owners keep increasing the loan by charging high interest, which makes them work at the kilns forever. I feel that this is slavery and is unfair because every child deserves to be educated.

The Government of Punjab passed a bill in August 2016. It is prohibited to hire a child at a brick kiln, according to the bill. If a child is seen working at a brick kiln then the kiln owner and the child’s guardians are held responsible. If a brick kiln owner will employ a child, he will have to pay a fine of Rs 500,000 and a prison sentence of six months. The limit of advances to kiln workers will now be under Rs50,000. The bill also says the kiln owners and workers have to submit a written contract to the police to prevent them from breaking the law. Such a bill should be passed not only in Punjab but in all the provinces of Pakistan and not only at brick kilns but wherever child slavery is involved.

Finally, I must say that we, the readers of Young World, are lucky that we are getting good quality education. We must value this facility and also try to extend it those children whose parents cannot afford to send them to a school imparting a good standard of education.

On a personal note, I may add that every Saturday, along with my mother and two younger siblings I go to a school for under-privileged children and teach there. Believe me, it is a very satisfying experience.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 13th, 2017