Child Labor and Health Hazards: A major problem of Urban Squatter Settlements

Child labor, has become a growing concern globally. It may harm/exploit them physically, mentally, morally, or by blocking access to education. Child labor is becoming serious issue in developing countries. In Asia, 22% of the... [ view full abstract ]

Child labor, has become a growing concern globally. It may harm/exploit them physically, mentally, morally, or by blocking access to education. Child labor is becoming serious issue in developing countries. In Asia, 22% of the workforce is children. In Pakistan, about 11 million children are its victims.
A study was conducted in 2 urban slum of Pakistan to determine the causes and problems associated with child labor in the urban squatter and to observe different types of health hazards associated with their work. Interviews were conducted with 120 children working at different places by using a survey questionnaire. A convenient sampling method was used.
Out of 120 subjects; 74% were boys and 26% girls. Among them 38% were of age 7-10 years and 62% of 11-14 years. Average working hours for 47% subjects were 9-12 hours, 23% were having 5-8 hours and 30% having 13-18 hours, About 13% children were not earning just learning the skills, 7% were earning >12 US $/month; 64 % having 12 to 35 US$ and 16% were earning >35 US$. Due to poverty, 67% of subjects give their earning to parents, 15% keep money for personal use, 7% spend on medicines and 4% on education. 84% children have no-schooling; 57% working on monthly salary & 18% are self-employed; About half of the children are working due to financial constraints and enormous family pressure. Due to long working hours, hot and unhygienic atmosphere, heavy weight lifting and lack of health facilities they often suffers from Diarrhea, respiratory and skin diseases and backache.
The working children are in miserable condition. There is need to discourage child labor by enhancing socio-economic support, promoting education and developing appropriate policies to protect rights of children.
Key words, child labor, slums, children, health hazards, family pressure, diseases, miserable conditions, policies