According to International Labour Organisation (ILO), child labour is defined as, “Work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.” Marking the day, every year on June 12, the World Day against Child Labour is observed worldwide. The day reminds the government and workers organisations of resolve to eliminate the child labour. The theme or campaign for World Day against Child Labour 2018 is ‘Generation Safe & Healthy’.

Theme

The theme for this year aims to shine a spotlight on the global need to improve the safety and health of young workers and end child labour. The campaign also aims to accelerate action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 8.8 of safe and secure working environments for all workers by 2030 and SDG target 8.7 of ending all forms of child labour by 2025. Achieving these goals for the benefit of the next generation of the global workforce requires a concerted and integrated approach to eliminating child labour and promoting a culture of prevention on occupational safety health (OSH).

History

In the year 2002, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) decided to observe the World Day Against Child Labour every year on June 12 to fight against the evil of child labour and to bring the attention of everyone involved – the governments, civil society and labour unions – towards the problems and issues concerning child labour and to make efforts to eliminate it. Child labour is one of the most atrocious social evils prevalent in the society. It denies children their basic rights such as right to go to school, right to play, right to care and nutrition and right to not get exploited.

Significance

Today is the day when the world comes together to commit itself to eliminate all forms of child labour. On this day national governments, NGO’s, employers and workers take a pledge to work for the elimination of child labour from employments which are dangerous and degrading for them. The day also reiterates the importance of schooling for children for their overall development. The observance of the day brings focus of policy makers around the world towards the problems of child labour. At an individual level, we are reminded of the evils of child labour for the society and what is needed to be done for its abolition.

A child should get all the protection and care needed for her overall development. And for their wholesome development, an enabling environment is needed both outside and inside the home. The World Day Against Child Labour provides an opportunity to create such an environment. Throughout the world and especially in developing countries like India, child labour is an endemic problem. Millions of children do all kind of work in factories, industries, shops, restaurants and as domestic workers in our households. Children are also forced to work in hazardous forms of employments like drug trafficking and child prostitution.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 12, 2018 11:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).