The May contest #2 by @sduttaskitchen|Child labor!

My friend, @sduttaskitchen, this week has brought us a timely topic to discuss. As I strongly oppose child labor, I want to be a voice for that. As well, I would like to invite my friends @anasuleidy, @jyoti-thelight, and @ngoenyi to voice their opinions on it.

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Forcing kids to work at their young age under harsh and unfair conditions is justice? They should have the right to learn, play, and grow, but society burdens them with responsibilities far beyond their age. They steal kids' smiles, their dreams, and their right to grow as a child. Do you agree with that? I strongly oppose that.

My friend questioned, what are the main reasons behind child labor?

What do you feel, my friends? It is none other than poverty. When a family or an individual struggles to earn enough for even one meal a day, sending a child to work may be the only choice. If it were done by a parent, that would not be their cruelty but their helplessness. The income may be very small, and it may be earned by a small hand, but for a poor family, it is a big thing. Imagine you are from a poor family; then even your situation may be like that.

Another reason is that the child is not in a position to get a free, quality education. Sometimes, there may be no schools near their houses, or their parents may have difficulty providing them with the necessary equipment to learn, as the educational equipment is too expensive. Sometimes there may be schools, but no teachers or proper facilities. This may lead to the children being pushed from the classroom and into the fields, factories, or roadside stalls.

Some families forced their children to labor due to their debts. Especially in rural areas, parents forced their kids to work in factories or fields with the hope of repaying their debt. Not only that, there are some cases where orphaned or abandoned children go into the hands of traffickers and end up as child workers. Another painful reason is the silence of society. If we can open our voices when we notice a child serving tea at a shop or carrying bricks, instead of ignoring it, the employers may be discouraged from using children for such work. If we keep silent, it will make the problem grow.

My friend, your next question is, how can we spread awareness that children need education, not labor?

It can be done in various ways. In my country, the government has imposed rules and regulations. It is prohibited to use children under 12 for labor. If someone notices and informs the closest administrative office or the police about the person who uses that child for labor, the government makes a case against them and punishes them.

As well, we can change society; for that, first, we should change their minds. The most powerful way is to do this through stories. If we can spread real stories of how children escaped labor and found success through education, that will help to open their hearts. These stories can be shared through social media, school events, films or teledramas, and community programs. As well, we can use art, street dramas, and puppet shows to send a powerful message to the kids.

The government can force parents to send their children to school, and if parents do not do that, then the government can face legal action against the parents.

On World Children's Day, the government and society can arrange walks, talks, and exhibitions to make the children and parents aware.

Your next question is, how can we reduce or stop child labor?

As I mentioned previously, the government, society, and people have a big role to reduce and stop child labor. As well, to stop that, we should go to the root of the problem. The main thing is to get out of poverty. For that, the government and donor agencies can support poor families with food and health care. Children need to be provided with free, quality education and the ability to get educational equipment. The government should implement strict laws. People who use child labor should get strong action taken against them. Children who do not get love and care need to be given counseling.

As adults, we also have a responsibility. If we notice a child being used for labor, we can report it to the child protection agencies. It is better if we can help them get a good education.

My dear friends, finally, I will remind you that a child's hands are for holding pencils, not tools. Let's work together to give every child a childhood they deserve.

Thank you for reading my blog.